Manama:The Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities (BACA), in collaboration with the University of Bahrain (UoB), has concluded the third edition of the Youth Forum on Intangible Cultural Heritage. The event, held over three days to align with the International Day of the Intangible Cultural Heritage, gathered 28 students from the College of Arts at the University of Bahrain.
According to Bahrain News Agency, Dana Yousif Abdulghani, Director of the National Heritage Directorate at BACA, stressed the importance of engaging young people in the preservation and documentation of intangible cultural heritage as a core component of Bahrain's national identity and cultural memory. She emphasized the forum's role in providing students with the necessary knowledge and skills to identify, inventory, and document elements of intangible cultural heritage using established research methods, thereby aiding in their preservation for future generations.
Dr. Dheya Abdullah Al Kaabi, Dean of the College of Arts at the University of Bahrain, underscored the significance of the partnership with BACA in bolstering academic research into cultural heritage and linking theoretical knowledge with practical fieldwork. She noted that the forum offered students a platform to apply their academic learning to the documentation of intangible cultural heritage, enhancing their appreciation of its importance and aiding in the preservation of Bahrain's cultural legacy for the future.
The forum included a training programme that integrated theoretical knowledge with practical activities. It introduced students to the concepts of intangible cultural heritage and methods for its inventory and documentation, alongside training in interviewing techniques, fieldwork, and data archiving. Participants engaged in practical exercises and presented the outcomes of their work.