qal’at al bahrain site museum

Qal’at al-Bahrain site museumA case-study

After its designation as a World Heritage site in 2005, a museum was conceived. The new museum was designed by Danish architects (Wohlert architecture) and fully sponsored by Arcapita Investment Bank. It opened in 2008.

Dilmun period

Tylos Islamic period

The museum reflects the long settlement history of Qal’at al-Bahrain site (2200 BC – 17th century AD)

Varied Cultural Activities

Spring of culture – May 2010

local talents

Elham art festival – May 2009

Enkiru Club

Discover Dilmun with Enkiru: July 2009

Drawing competition – November 2009

Water-fight at the fort – July 2009

Enkiru and National Day – Dec 2009

Training programs in the fields of museum and protection of cultural properties

1. Collaboration with UNESCO (Doha office): within the framework of the UNESCO program for culture and in particular for the preservation of cultural objects and capacity building in museum-related fields in the Gulf region, we have established a long term training program at the site museum in the conservation and restoration of archaeological artifacts

October 2009 : Introductory training course on the conservation and restoration of Metal and ceramic objectsMars 2010: Phase 2 – conservation of ceramic objectsJune 2010: Phase 3 – Conservation of ceramics and Manuscripts

The program was planned to be an introductory and preliminary one so that the participants become acquainted with the concepts and principals of conservation and restoration of cultural properties

Collaboration with the conservation department at the MIA

1. Mars 2010 2. June 2010

2. Techniques of exhibitions – February and May 2010

Opening of the exhibition: Dilmun is blessed, Dilmun is pure

Book signing: the manual to Strategic Planning in Museums (Arabic translation)

Collaboration with ICOM and University of Bahrain

For International Museum’s Day, the site museum in collaboration with ICOM and the University of Bahrain organised a workshop on the new role of museum.

Future projects

1. Advanced workshops in conservation 2. Workshop for museum guides (September 2010) 3. Workshop on inventory and documentation (November 2010)-

UNESCO and ICOM4. Workshop on Illicit Traffic (UNESCO)5. A number of workshops to be planned in collaboration with

ICOM