Belgian Antiquity Expert: Islamic holdings in European museums changed my views on Islam and civilization
aTP- Arab tourism portal- The National Museum on last Tuesday, hosted a workshop delivered by European experts and academics, in conjunction with the events of the Europe Day at the National Museum.
The workshop was held under the theme “Digital media and its use in museums”, delivered by Belgian museum expert, Alexandra Van Puyvelde.
Mr. Puyvelde, who runs one of the largest museums in Brussels, in Belgian “Royal Museums of Art and History”, which also includes a large hall dedicated to ‘Art of the Islamic World’ collections and masterpieces, said, “Many European museums are proud of their ancient Islamic relics and artifacts, and as such most European museums have provided private gallery halls for Islamic monuments.
Many visitors expressed interest in Islamic holdings, which contributed greatly to change many concepts and stereotypes about Islam and Islamic civilization, especially all of the displayed effects are provided with written and audio descriptions in several languages.
When some portions of a relic is not clearly seen, the relic is variously photographed in various positions and several in several images to complete the full form of the relic in order for the people concerned to view its full details.
In our Museum we depend on new media marketing at the Museum and its exhibits – archaeology and collectibles, at first through web site, then by email and newsletter to subscribers sent to subscribers and visitors periodically, besides using the Twitter and Facebook and similar social media and the latest applications.
The Belgian expert reviewed the extensive use by European museums of the latest technology to help tour guides who work at the Museum, or who come from outside the Museum, the use of many languages and various instructions, disclosing that some of their tour guides are Muslims and they are regarded as the most able to explain and convey information to visitors, especially in the Islamic masterpieces and Antiquities halls.
The Belgian expert said they were very keen to arrange Islamic pieces in the exhibition based on their history, value and, geography, matching with the ornaments which are drawn on the hall and on its façade is fixed the Muqaddimah of Ibn Khaldun, translated in several languages, and presented in the audio form to be in harmony with the displayed artifacts.
The Museum asks visitors to provide feedback for surveys and questionnaires on the one hand to detect their requirements, and what they lack. These measures have contributed to the review of our information and provide us with suggestions for us to work and add to the Museum.
"Interactive display is very important to draw attention. Also accurate photo enlargement is very important and that will help to attract children’s attention, especially as it coincide with the heritage games devoted to children and Islamic heritage of songs in many languages in addition to the mother tongue, that make visitors from the Middle East and North Africa feel prouder of Islamic heritage.
Worth mentioning, the workshop coincides with the opening of the cultural exhibition "Islamic art in European museums" on the anniversary of Europe today 2016. The work shop was in cooperation with the Ministry of Culture and Information. The gallery displays 60 paintings from 12 European countries, representing photos of Islamic art and holdings in a number of European museums, in addition to the Accompanied exhibition of Islamic capitals, which displays 106 rare Islamic monuments of Germany.
