Museums United for Yemen mark a success during the Yemeni Heritage Week

More than 10 museums from around the world have organized various activities during the Yemeni Heritage Week, from 24 to 30 April, to shed light on the richness of the cultural heritage in Yemen at risk. The activities included exhibitions and collections of the country’s artefacts at different museums. Museums have also produced brochures and booklets and dedicated webpages, which are accessible from UNESCO’s#Unite4Heritage campaign website. People from all over the world had the opportunity to learn about the cultural heritage of Yemen and appreciate their artefacts.

The participating museums included: The Ashmolean Museum; The British Museum; Freer|Sackler, Smithsonian; Louvre Museum; Metropolitan Museum of Art; Museo Nazionale d’Arte Orientale “Guiseppe Tucci”; Peter the Great Museum of Anthropology and Ethnography (Kunstkamera), Russian Academy of Sciences; The State Hermitage Museum; The State Museum of Oriental Art; and The Walters Art Museum.

Mr Muhannad Sayani, Chairman of the General Organization of Antiquities and Museums of Yemen, praised the campaign. “The campaign reflects UNESCO’s care for cultural heritage in Yemen. It also emphasizes the importance and the necessity to double local efforts to improve the state of our heritage and to protect it, which requires everyone to take responsibilities towards our rich heritage,” he said.

During the week, #Unite4heritage UNESCO global campaign and other various activities were covered by local and international news media, which highlighted interviews with museum directors who focused on the challenges facing Yemen’s cultural heritage. Social media posts over the seven days reached tens of millions of people in nearly 90 countries.