Sharjah Institute for Heritage Prepares to Launch the Fourth Edition of the Sharjah International Award for Cultural Heritage

The Board of Trustees of the Sharjah International Award for Cultural Heritage held its first meeting, chaired by H.E. Dr. Abdulaziz Al Musallam, Chairman of the Sharjah Institute for Heritage and Chairman of the Award’s Board of Trustees, to discuss the launch of the fourth edition of the Sharjah International Award for Cultural Heritage in the coming July. During the meeting, held at the Arab Heritage Center of the Sharjah Institute for Heritage, agenda items were reviewed in the presence of Their Excellencies the Board members: H.E. Dr. Saeed Musabah Al Kaabi, Chairman of the Sharjah Education Council; H.E. Dr. Majid Bu Shlaibi, Director of the Sharjah Islamic Forum; H.E. Dr. Hamad bin Sarray, Associate Professor of Ancient History, Department of History and Archaeology; and H.E. Ms. Fatima Al Mughni, President of the Humanities Studies Association; as well as Ms. Aisha Al Hosani Al Shamsi, Director of the Arab Heritage Center and Director of the Sharjah International Award for Cultural Heritage. Recognizing Distinguished Efforts in Safeguarding and Documenting Heritage at the Local, Arab, and International Levels H.E. Dr. Abdulaziz Al Musallam stated: “We announce the launch of the fourth edition of the Sharjah International Award for Cultural Heritage, which embodies the vision of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, aimed at preserving Arab cultural heritage and promoting the values and methods of safeguarding it. Through the Award, we seek to recognize distinguished efforts at the local, Arab, and international levels in safeguarding and documenting heritage and successful experiences that ensure its continuity, while fostering scholarly competition—both theoretical and applied—among those engaged in scientific and field-based research in preserving and recording heritage.” He added: “During the meeting, we presented a detailed overview of the Award’s three principal fields. The Award’s timeline and the members of the Jury Committee were approved, and its promotional plan was discussed. The Award aims to contribute to honoring successful efforts and supporting inspiring initiatives—locally, regionally, and internationally—in safeguarding cultural heritage elements, in addition to promoting and recognizing outstanding safeguarding practices in accordance with UNESCO standards in this field, documenting safeguarding practices, and presenting them as models to be emulated worldwide.” Creating a Supportive Environment for the Sustainability of Arab Cultural Heritage For her part, Ms. Aisha Al Hosani Al Shamsi, Director of the Arab Heritage Center and Director of the Award, stated: “Through the Sharjah International Award for Cultural Heritage, we aspire to create a supportive environment for the sustainability of Arab cultural heritage and ensure its transmission to future generations, while also promoting awareness of human heritage and strengthening cooperation in this field. The Award supports practices and initiatives that ensure the continuity of cultural heritage and its transmission from generation to generation; honors narrators (Living Human Treasures) and highlights their role in transmitting knowledge and expertise; identifies oral traditions and heritage knowledge systems; and recognizes outstanding scholarly and academic efforts in the field of intangible cultural heritage.” Principal Fields of the Award The Award comprises three principal fields: Safeguarding Practices of Cultural Heritage Elements; Narrators and Bearers of Heritage (Living Human Treasures); and Research and Studies in Cultural Heritage. These three fields encompass nine categories—three within each field—distributed across local, Arab, and international levels, as follows: First: Best Safeguarding Practices of Cultural Heritage, including the Local Practices Award, Arab Practices Award, and International Practices Award. Second: Best Narrators and Bearers of Heritage (Living Human Treasures), including the Local Narrator Award, Arab Narrator Award, and International Narrator Award. Third: Best Research and Studies in Cultural Heritage, including the Local Research Award, Arab Research Award, and International Research Award. Award Criteria The Award is governed by a set of standards, mechanisms, eligibility conditions, and general provisions, including that the Sharjah Institute for Heritage is the official organizing body of the Award; that nominees (individuals, groups, or institutions) must be specialized and have demonstrable contributions in one of the Award’s fields and categories; that the participation form must be completed and signed by the nominee (if an individual) or by the representative of the group or institution; and that each applicant—individual, group, or institution—may participate in only one category. The submitted project must comply with the Award’s terms and provisions. Applicants must adhere to the specific criteria and conditions of the selected field. The submitted work or project (whether by an institution or an individual) must not have previously won other awards. Winners shall grant the Sharjah Institute for Heritage the right to publish, disseminate, and make available the winning work or project and to utilize any outputs resulting from the Award by any means deemed appropriate by the Institute. Winners in each category receive a monetary prize, the Sharjah Institute for Heritage Shield, and a Certificate of Excellence in their field, while non-winning participants receive Certificates of Participation. The Sharjah Institute for Heritage had previously announced in May 2016 the establishment of an annual award from that year under the title “Sharjah International Award for Cultural Heritage,” distributed across three fields, with a total prize value of USD 54,000.