Sawa Museum Academy shortlisted for award
SHARJAH: Sawa Museum Academy of Sharjah Museums Authority, SMA, has been nominated as one of only three finalists in the international Leading Cultural Destinations Award 2020 in Germany, Berlin.
The cross-cultural exchange programme Sawa, ‘Sisters in Liberty’, an exhibition at the Ellis Island National Museum of Immigration in New York, and ‘Ottawa Art Gallery’, a visual arts institution in Canada, have been shortlisted for LCD’S Best Cultural Collaboration under the category of Soft Power Destination of the Year.
Winners among nominees representing about 50 cultural destinations from 26 countries including USA, France, Italy, UK, Spain, Bahrain,
KSA, UAE, and others, will be announced during a ceremony held for the first time in Berlin on 4th March, after having been held in London for five years in a row.
A prominent international jury selecting winners include Matthew Anderson, European culture editor for The New York Times; Helena Egan, tourism and place-making specialist; Dr Martin Heller, cultural advocate and arts patron; Oliver Jahn, editor-in-chief, AD Architectural Digest; Dr Thierry Morel, director, curator-at-large and board member of the Hermitage Foundation; artist Ahmet Out; and Salma Tuqan, deputy director of the Delfina Foundation.
The ‘Museums Express’ initiative introduced by Sharjah Museums Authority last year, will be making 33 visits during 2020 to 12 public schools located in Khor Fakkan, Kalba, Wadi Al Hilo, Al Madam, Dibai Al Hisn and Nazwa.
Now in its second year, the mobile museum was launched in collaboration the UAE Ministry of Education and Bee’ah, the Middle East’s sustainability pioneer, the initiative’s strategic sponsor.
As many as 5320 pupils in grades 5 through 12, are expected to experience Museums Express which will also be taking part in events organised by different Sharjah government departments throughout the year.
The initiative, which is part of a series of programmes organised by SMA that focus on education as one of its fundamental objectives, comes in line with the UAE’S 2021 vision and the strategy of Sharjah Education Council.
Museums Express enables pupils, especially those residing in areas located far from the city centre, to access museums and enjoy a blend of education and entertainment in an atmosphere that helps nurture creativity and expression amongst them.
As part of the experience, students will undergo two workshops focused around some of the objects on display onboard Museums Express that are related to pupils’ curriculum.