The UK’s Science Museum Group has signed an agreement with Saudi Arabia‘s culture ministry to create a “museums hub” in Riyadh.
Through the new hub, the Science Museum Group will work closely with museum professionals, researchers and educators in Saudi Arabia to develop “a centre of excellence for science and culture and support the wider museum sector”, the group said in a press release.
The agreement was signed by Rakan Altouq, Saudi’s assistant minister of culture, and Ian Blatchford, chief executive and director of the Science Museum Group.
The partnership builds on a cultural memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the UK and Saudi Arabia in 2022.
Cultural collaboration
“Internationalism is second nature for the Science Museum Group, both because of the power of cultural engagement and because collaboration between different nations has always been essential to addressing global challenges,” said Blatchford.
“Through this agreement we can help support positive change in Saudi Arabia, helping to build science engagement and grow a strong, sustainable museums sector.”
Also in Saudi, AlUla – billed as the world’s largest living museum – has announced architects Lina Ghotmeh and Asif Khan for two major museums.
Paris’ Centre Pompidou is partnering with Saudi Arabia on one of these, a contemporary art museum.
The Science Museum Group oversees the Science Museum in London, the Science and Industry Museum in Manchester, the National Science and Media Museum in Bradford, the National Railway Museum in York, and Locomotion in Shildon.
Earlier this month, the Science Museum opened its latest exhibition, which showcases clockwork treasures on loan from China’s Forbidden City in Beijing.
Images courtesy of the Science Museum Group and AlUla
