Sunday 24 / November / 2024
International Museum Day is observed on May 18th to raise awareness about museums as an important means of cultural exchange and development. In Oman several museums featuring Oman’s evolution have been setup. This weekend visit Oman Across Ages Museum in Manah; the latest addition in the list.
Set up in implementation of the Royal orders of the late Sultan Qaboos bin Said, who laid the foundation stone for the project on 14 July 2015, Oman Across Ages Museum is envisioned to be a world-class destination showcasing the country’s cultural heritage. The museum highlights the unique character of the Sultanate along with its ancient history and its renaissance. The permanent exhibition wings are divided into two: The History Gallery and the Renaissance Gallery.
The History Gallery deals with several epochs and historical eras. The presentations in the History Gallery are based on digital media to create multi-dimensional virtual environments that enable the visitors to experience events of each era. It also documents evidence and maps to provide a state of realism.
The pavilions house a number of antiques and presentations on various topics and archaeological sites such as settlements of Ras Al Hamra and Ras Al Jinz and aspects of life at that time, including seasonal migrations, maritime communication, copper trade and the construction of the Aflaj water system.
They also contain a highly accurate virtual environment that documents Omani people’s contribution to Islam, as well as aspects of intellectual, political, social, and economic life related to those interactions. The pavilions document the contribution of Omani scholars.
The Renaissance Gallery is designed in the form of an open space with gigantic columns in the centre which form an interactive space for the presentation of the high-resolution audio-visual display system that deals with the first five years of the blessed renaissance.
The museum also contains facilities that serve visitors and provide them with the means of comfort. There are special rooms as a free service for visitors who can leave their bags and belongings there before starting their tour. The service is available during the museum’s working hours from nine in the morning until nine in the evening.
The museum also includes a lecture hall and an Innovation Laboratory dedicated to educational programmes, including those implemented by the Oman Across Ages Museum, or programmes of community institutions that participate in achieving educational benefits for various segments of society.
The Ideas Lab for Children is equipped with advanced educational equipment and it is designed to host and hold workshops and educational programmes for children of different ages.
