Riyadh: The Museums Commission yesterday held a virtual session titled 'Museums, the Education Sector, and the Labor Market: Exploring Qualifications and Jobs Needed in the Museum Sector' as part of its ongoing monthly Open Talk series, which aims to discuss key issues in the museum field with the participation of specialists and experts in museums, heritage, and culture.
According to Saudi Press Agency, the session aimed to raise awareness, exchange experiences and expertise, and highlight best practices in managing and preserving cultural heritage, contributing to the development of the museum sector in the Kingdom in alignment with the goals of Saudi Vision 2030. The discussion addressed the qualifications, career paths, and skill sets required to work in the museum field both locally and internationally. It shed light on the latest developments in the Kingdom's museum job market and academic requirements for preparing national talent and highlighted key specialized roles and practical competencies needed in modern museum environments, in addition to global trends in digitization and exhibition technologies.
Arab Regional Alliance of the International Council of Museums (ICOM Arab) president Dr. Al Sharqi Dahmali explained that museum management rests on three fundamental pillars: development, protection, and employment. He noted that employment is the cornerstone of museum work and that the role of museum curator has significantly evolved to require specialized skills in managing collections and related knowledge. He stressed that this role continues to develop in line with societal changes, emphasizing the importance of equipping curators with advanced thinking tools to foster community engagement and meet public expectations. He called for museum teams to be prepared to handle crises and potential disasters with professionalism and efficiency.
Dr. Dahmali concluded by underscoring the importance of understanding visitor behavior and conducting studies on visitor experiences, as well as providing engaging environments with comfort features and interactive activities - factors that enhance museums' competitiveness both locally and globally.
Hala Al-Saleh, a specialist at Diriyah Art Futures under the Museums Commission, explained that museum career paths still lack clear classifications due to the evolving nature of museum roles. She outlined the diversity of specializations within the sector, including exhibition curation, museum education, collections management, digital archiving, visual experience design, and modern technical and artistic tracks. She also discussed the Emerging New Media Artists Program offered by Diriyah Art Futures, which aims to empower rising talents and enhance their creative practices in collaboration with international experts within an environment that integrates art, research, and advanced technology. Al-Saleh highlighted the significant impact of digital transformation on museum operations and public engagement, noting that the shift has led to the emergence of specialized talent aligned with the needs of modern technology.
For her part, Learning at Art Jameel's former director Maria Alam emphasized the importance of strong motivation to learn among those interested in working in museums. She observed that some applicants are hesitant to enter the field, despite the passion and continuous pursuit of knowledge it demands and the openness it requires toward cultural collections. She pointed out the diversity of careers in the museum sector, which offers academic opportunities ranging from diploma programs to theoretical and practical training, enabling individuals to join the field through specialized tracks.
Today's session is part of the Museums Commission's broader efforts to strengthen partnerships with universities and research centers, support knowledge disciplines related to the humanities and social sciences, and encourage advanced studies in the museum field.