Sheikh Sultan honours winners of ICCROM-Sharjah Award for Good Practices in Cultural Heritage

His Highness Dr Sheikh Sultan Bin Mohammad Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, attended the ceremony honouring the winners of the fourth edition of the “ICCROM”-Sharjah Award for Good Practices in Cultural Heritage Conservation and Management in the Arab Region and the third edition of the Arab Cultural Heritage Award for Young.

The event took place at the International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property (ICCROM) in Sharjah.

Aruna Francesca Maria Gujral, Director General of ICCROM, delivered a speech expressing her sincere gratitude to the Ruler of Sharjah for his continued and steadfast support of ICCROM's regional activities in Sharjah and his generous patronage of this prestigious award, which highlights exceptional projects aimed at preserving cultural heritage for the benefit of communities in the Arab region.

Gujral added, "The ICCROM-Sharjah Award for Good Practices in Cultural Heritage Conservation and Management in the Arab Region is more than just recognition or appreciation; it is a testament to the transformative power of heritage conservation and a celebration of the heroes who defend this vital cause. The award not only honours technical expertise but also acknowledges the profound, intangible contributions that support the cultural identities and ways of life that distinguish our communities."

For his part, Nasser Al Darmaki, Deputy Director of the ICCROM Regional Centre in Sharjah, said, "Cultural heritage is the memory of nations and peoples; it is a bridge connecting the past and the present, a witness to our shared history and unique identity. It distinguishes our communities and enhances our pride in belonging. From this perspective, these awards were established to honor the efforts made to protect heritage and to encourage innovation and creativity in formulating sustainable solutions for preserving cultural heritage."

He also addressed the current edition of the ICCROM-Sharjah Award for Good Practices, saying, "We have received an unprecedented number of submissions from across the Arab region. This wide participation and significant interest came as a pleasant surprise to us, especially given some exceptional circumstances in the region. We are celebrating a selected group of these projects that have demonstrated excellence in preserving and protecting cultural heritage from interventions, as well as maintaining important historical architecture, leading to precise restoration and consolidation processes aimed at rehabilitating historical and archaeological sites.”

The Ruler of Sharjah then viewed a video presentation showcasing all the participating works that qualified for the final stage across various categories.

Sheikh Sultan honoured the winners of the third edition of the Arab Cultural Heritage Award for Young.

The first-place award in the drawing category went to students Saud Shahil Zamel Al Shahil from King Abdullah Middle School in Saudi Arabia, and Fahd Shahil Zamel Al Shahil from Al-Muqaddam Bin Amr School in Saudi Arabia.

The second place was awarded to Maryam Younis Abdul Rahman Al Feel from the Applied Technology School in the United Arab Emirates, while Hala Dhafir Shaghleel secured third place from the New Vision School in the Syrian Arab Republic.

A special commendation award in the drawing category was presented by the judging committee and the award management to recognise exceptional artistic works, which was received by Abdul Rahman Hassan Al Asaad from Al-Khansa Private School in the Syrian Arab Republic.

In the photography category, the first place went to Nadeem Abdul Rahman Ali Qaid from Al-Nibras Private School in Taiz, Yemen. The second place was awarded to Ruba Ali Abdul Rahim Tawalbeh from Loret Educational Academy in Jordan, while Selina Fakhr Al-Din from Haj Bahauddin Al Hariri School in Sidon, Lebanon, came in third place.

In the Folkloric Dance category, the first place was awarded to Al-Taqaddum School for Basic Education in Tripoli, Libya, for a dance representing Libyan attire. The second place went to Haj Bahauddin Hariri School in Sidon, Lebanon, for a folkloric dance performed at Khan Al-Ifranji.

The third place, awarded jointly in the same category, was given to the Mayasam Association for Culture and Arts in Gaza, Palestine, for a Palestinian Dabka dance at the site of Saint Hilarion Monastery, Tel Umm Amer, and to the Rose City Mixed Basic School in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan for a Dabka from ancient Jordanian heritage.

WAM