Description

"Accessibility is not a Privilege but a Right: A Case of Sharjah Museums"​

Manal Ataya is a museology specialist with over 15 years of senior managerial experience in museum development and cultural diplomacy. As Director-General of Sharjah Museums Authority, she oversees a team of 600+ staff working in Sharjah’s 16 museums which cover areas of modern and contemporary Arab art, Islamic history, UAE heritage, and archaeology. Ataya dedicates her time to advocacy initiatives for accessible arts education, programs that promote cross-cultural dialogue, and mentoring young women in leadership. She is a leading figure in the UAE cultural sector, responsible for implementing His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan Bin Mohammed Al Qasimi’s directives for future museum and cultural heritage-related projects.

Ataya is a graduate of both Hamilton College (2001) and Harvard University (2004). 

She serves on numerous advisory boards including Global Cultural Districts Network; the University of Sharjah’s College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences; Make-A-Wish Foundation, and ICCROM-Sharjah, the Arab region’s field office of the UN’s body for cultural heritage preservation. Ataya was awarded the prestigious Chevalier Order of Arts & Letters by the Republic of France in 2018 for her significant contributions to culture.