Opportunity to digitize Arab cultural treasures should not be missed

We are lucky enough to have some of the world’s finest cultural treasures available online at the tap of our fingertips. From the British Museum in London and the Louvre Museum in Paris to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City and the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, cultural institutions all over the world are transitioning into a virtual, boundless world in a true celebration of cross-cultural appreciation.

Dissolving the boundaries of access to cultural legacies can deliver an abundance of benefits. The digitization of cultural treasures is an ode to the creative forces from across human history, ensuring their cultural legacies are safeguarded and appreciated. Not limited by the physical proximities of cultural institutions, audiences can engage in immersive experiences, such as online exhibitions, virtual tours and interactive storytelling.

Additionally, digitization contributes to improved access for academics and educators who teach, research and publish regularly for academic studies, historical research and cultural exploration. This, in turn, facilitates knowledge exchange among cultural institutions and experts, which furthers discussions on cultural insights and research.

Digitization also helps to preserve delicate and vulnerable items by lessening the need to physically handle them and it serves as a backup in case of destruction due to accidents or natural disasters.

For a dose of culture, aficionados can embark on virtual tours and explore digital collections of many notable cultural institutions in the Arab world, exploring a definitive directory of priceless collections whose influence, beauty and significance are truly remarkable. From the national museums in Oman and Bahrain to the King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture, known as Ithra, and the Louvre Abu Dhabi, these prominent institutions are inspiring individuals to learn about the rich cultural heritage of the Arab world and contribute to the region’s flourishing creative scene.

The digitization of cultural treasures is an ode to the creative forces from across human history

Sara Al-Mulla

For instance, the Museum of Islamic Art in Doha boasts an impressive online collection that acts as a virtual gateway to more than 400 precious items spanning more than 1,400 years, including metalwork, ceramics, jewelry, woodwork, textiles, coins and glass. Enriching the experience further, its online collection offers a treasure trove of high-resolution images and fascinating details about each item.

The Egyptian Museum in Cairo is home to an extensive array of ancient Egyptian artifacts, among them the renowned treasures of Tutankhamun. In the museum’s online collection, visitors can marvel at some of the most iconic artifacts, while also delving into rich historical narratives and profound insights into their cultural significance. It offers an immersive digital platform that brings the wonders of ancient Egypt to life, allowing enthusiasts worldwide to engage with these extraordinary treasures.

With more and more collections being digitized, cultural institutions have many marketable surpluses to share with eager global audiences — fostering greater awareness, engagement and appreciation of cultural treasures from the Arab world. To grow their reach, regional institutions can regularly create virtual exhibitions that highlight specific themes or epochs, allowing viewers from anywhere in the world to delve into a fascinating array of curated experiences.

In tandem, in-house experts can organize online seminars, talks and events to discuss memorable artifacts or collections, share interesting facts and encourage audience interaction on multiple social media platforms, such as Instagram, TikTok and YouTube. To illustrate, the London-based National Gallery has a thriving YouTube channel, with video content revolving around art history, conservation efforts and interesting insights sparked by their collections and artists. On another note, institutions can also engage with art enthusiasts, historians or content creators with a genuine interest in the arts to promote digital museum collections and their virtual events.

To grow their reach, regional institutions can regularly create virtual exhibitions that highlight specific themes or epochs

Sara Al-Mulla

By building a fruitful partnership with regional and global cultural institutions, local players can support a pathway to digitizing relevant collections and can engage with renowned experts based on best practices. Regional institutions can also partner with renowned digital platforms with a focus on the arts and that have an expansive audience, such as Google Arts & Culture, to showcase digital collections. They can further expand their outreach programs by designing interesting and relevant educational resources and lesson plans for schools to incorporate into their curricula. A key consideration would be to translate all essential information and the descriptions of cultural collections into multiple languages in order to jump-start and expand inclusive access and interest from a diverse global audience.

Government policies and their financing of digitization efforts can unlock priceless cultural heritage that represents the Arab world. They can employ several effective strategies toward achieving this goal. Governments could opt for a centralized agency to create digital archives of their cultural legacies, including artifacts, manuscripts, artworks, photographs and historical documents. Funding from government agencies, private enterprises or individual donors can be channeled toward the equipment, expertise and technology required for digitization initiatives. Implementing training programs and workshops aimed at enhancing the digital competencies of the staff at local cultural institutions is key to successful digitization, equipping them with the knowledge and expertise required to proficiently manage digitization initiatives according to international guidelines.

Moreover, it is important to formulate comprehensive policies and guidelines that address copyright and intellectual property rights pertaining to digitized collections, establishing a robust framework to safeguard the rights of artists, creators and museums, while ensuring responsible and lawful utilization of the digitized materials.

Arab countries should not miss the opportunity to establish a distinctive, ubiquitous digital presence that celebrates the unique cultural heritage of the region.

• Sara Al-Mulla is an Emirati civil servant with an interest in human development policy and children’s literature. She can be contacted at www.amorelicious.com.