A two-day forum focusing on the role of fine art in preserving intangible cultural heritage commenced Tuesday in Muscat. The event, held under the auspices of Sayyid Said bin Sultan al Busaidi, Under-Secretary of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth for Culture, aims to explore methods and measures to safeguard intangible cultural elements through artistic expression.

Targeting academics, researchers, and specialists in fields related to both intangible cultural heritage and the arts, the “Sub-Regional Forum on Intangible Heritage and Art: Reality and Challenges” is organized by Oman’s Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth in collaboration with the Ministry of Education. The Oman National Commission for Education, Culture and Science represents the latter, while the German University of Technology in Oman (GUtech) contributes through its Unesco Chair on World Heritage Management and Sustainable Tourism in the Arab Region.

In his opening remarks, Dr. Mahmoud bin Abdullah al Abri, Secretary-General of the Oman National Commission for Education, Culture and Science, referenced the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) initiative launched on April 18, 2025. The initiative, titled “Emergency Response for Living Heritage in the Context of Crises and Disasters,” underscores the need to protect both tangible and intangible heritage against the adverse effects of crises and disasters.

Dr. al Abri emphasized that art plays a vital role as a creative medium to document and transmit historical landmarks, customs, traditions, knowledge, and cultural practices to future generations. He also highlighted the significant challenges facing intangible heritage, noting that several cultural elements are listed on UNESCO’s 2003 Convention’s List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding.

The forum serves as a platform for dialogue and collaboration among experts to enhance strategies that reinforce cultural preservation through artistic means, addressing both current risks and long-term sustainability of intangible heritage in the region.