Eleventh International Conference on The Inclusive Museum

Abstract

This paper discusses the function of museums in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) by investigating the ways in which the Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities (SCTA) represents and interprets KSA’s history nationally and internationally. Also discussed are issues of community involvement and the possibilities of building a bridge between the museum and the community. I analyse the existing approach to representing past societies in the KSA, using a case study of the Saudi National Museum in Riyadh, and argue in favour of its validities in representing the KSA’s history effectively. Subsequently, I investigate the SCTA’s perspectives on its involvement with local communities in the life of the Saudi museum, ultimately arguing that museums in Saudi Arabia need to modify the representation approach they currently use in museum display, as well as to provide all community levels with well-prepared and organised programs; thus, I conclude, the SCTA needs to work with large local audiences who have had little or no previous contact with museums, by establishing comprehensive connections with other Saudi museums.