News & Event

The national workshop "The International Fund for Cultural Diversity: Its Nature and Registration Mechanism" kicked off start under the patronage of HE Habib bin Mohammed Al Riyami, Chairman of Sultan Qaboos Higher Centre for Culture and Science, and organized by the Omani National Commission for Education, Culture and Science, the International Fund for Cultural Diversity working group, and the Arab League Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organization (ALECSO), at Novotel Hotel.

The two-day workshop, presented by Dr. Wafaa Belqasem, CEO of the Cultural Funding Observatory of the Republic of Tunisia, targeted owners of cultural initiatives and projects and those interested in them. The aim was to discuss the challenges facing societies in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and the role of cultural and creative industries in driving sustainable development. Participants were also introduced to the International Fund for Cultural Diversity, learned about the mechanisms for submitting requests for support from the Fund for community development, and developed strategies for managing financial resources for cultural activities.

Dr. Younis Al-Naamani, Assistant Director of the Culture Sector Department at the Omani National Commission for Education, Culture and Science, emphasized that the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) is one of the international organizations that has given great attention to cultural diversity. In 2005, it announced the Convention on the Protection of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions to protect and promote the diversity of cultural expressions, encourage cultural rapprochement, and affirm the link between culture and sustainable development. Article (18) of the Convention focuses on the role of the International Fund for Cultural Diversity in supporting cultural projects, as it aims to invest in projects that bring about change in cultural policies, achieve sustainable development goals, and at the same time contribute to promoting innovation and developing new talents in the cultural field, which helps build inclusive and participatory societies.

He added: "The Sultanate of Oman is unique in its visibly diverse culture, making it an important and stimulating hub for supporting its cultural projects, which in turn constitutes a driver of economic growth. The castles, forts, heritage inns, traditional crafts, and Omani cuisine are examples that provide us with the finest expression of the Sultanate of Oman's authenticity and cultural diversity. Therefore, reconsidering them in a way that ensures their sustainability and investment is a fundamental requirement, especially since they align with the strategies and plans of Oman Vision 2040, which aim to enhance citizenship and preserve Omani heritage."

Dr. Huda Al-Dayri, Head of the Cultural Affairs Department at the Culture Sector Department of the Omani National Commission for Education, Culture and Science, then presented a scientific paper on “The Role of School Education in Promoting Cultural Diversity in the Sultanate of Oman.” The paper explained the implications of cultural diversity, the interrelationship between cultural diversity and education, and the role of school education in promoting cultural diversity by highlighting the role of teachers, textbooks, and school activities in promoting cultural diversity.

It is worth noting that the International Fund for Cultural Diversity is a donor-funded fund established under the 2005 UNESCO Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions, to which the Sultanate of Oman joined in 2007. This fund aims to promote sustainable development and poverty reduction in developing countries, and to support cultural projects aimed at producing a cultural commodity or activity, or those concerned with enhancing human capacity and focusing on cultural projects such as visual arts, cinema, and media arts.