Cultural Initiatives Forum 2026 Begins in Muscat

Muscat: The third edition of the 2026 Cultural Initiatives Forum, organized by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth, commenced today under the theme "Toward a Sustainable Cultural Partnership." The two-day event is being held at the Bait Al Zubair Museum in the Muscat Governorate. According to Oman News Agency, the forum hosts 50 cultural initiatives from various governorates of the Sultanate of Oman. It aims to activate the partnership between community institutions and the public sector and to enhance the role of cultural initiatives in the cultural movement. This contributes to building an institutional cultural system based on integration, cooperation, and systematic work, in addition to enhancing the sustainability of the initiatives and expanding their societal impact. Ahmed Saud Al Rawahi, Assistant Director General of the Directorate General of Knowledge and Cultural Development, explained that the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth accords steadfast attention to cultural initiatives. This s tems from its belief that culture is a responsibility that encompasses everyone, and that society is a partner in its creation, not merely a recipient. He noted that the Department of Cultural Activities serves as a bridge between idea owners and the institution, opening horizons of support, integration, and sustainability for these initiatives. He added that this forum embodies a fruitful outcome of the integration between the Ministry and Bait Al Zubair. When institutions cooperate and experiences converge, the space for culture expands and its impact is maximized. This cooperation, he stated, is not merely a partnership in organizing a meeting, but a partnership in the belief that culture is built through concerted efforts, and it flourishes when a creator finds someone who believes in their idea and provides it with room to grow. He clarified that cultural initiatives are the voice of society when awareness transforms into action, an idea into a project, and passion into impact. They are among the trues t reflections of vitality in the cultural scene and serve as one of the tributaries for building human capacity and enhancing human presence in the creation of culture. The forum's program includes panel discussions and brainstorming sessions that bring together the owners of cultural initiatives, as well as practical experiments to anticipate the future of cultural work. It also features the implementation of interactive workshops that enhance digital culture and explore the utilization of its tools in developing and sustaining initiatives. It is worth noting that the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth seeks, through organizing the Cultural Initiatives Forum this year, to highlight the importance of cultural initiatives and their active role in enriching the cultural movement and enhancing community participation. This ultimately contributes to developing the cultural system in the Sultanate of Oman and enhancing its sustainability.