National Museum Marks International Museum Day With 3-Day Programme

In celebration of International Museum Day 2025, the National Museum of Saudi Arabia is set to host a three-day cultural programme from May 15th to the 17th, titled ‘The Future of Museums in Rapidly Changing Communities’. The event will spotlight how museums are evolving beyond static repositories of history to become dynamic engines of local economic growth, education, and innovation.

Among the key highlights is a panel discussion in collaboration with the Museums Commission featuring Princess Haifa bint Mansour bin Bandar, Chair of the Board of Directors of the Saudi National Committee of the International Council of Museums (ICOM), and Rola Al-Ghrair, Director General of the National Museum. Together, they will explore the evolving function of museums in shaping society and bridging generations.

An interactive talk with the Royal Institute for Traditional Arts (WRTH) will examine how Saudi folk tales and performing arts can be woven into museum experiences that are both educational and entertaining—particularly appealing to younger audiences.

Another session titled ‘Living Heritage in Rapidly Changing Communities’, hosted in partnership with the Heritage Commission, will tackle the challenges of preserving intangible cultural heritage. The discussion will explore strategies to adapt traditional practices to modern lifestyles while ensuring their continuity.

The programme will conclude with a series of hands-on workshops, live craft demonstrations, and musical performances celebrating the richness of Saudi Arabia’s traditional arts.