Irbid: HH Princess Dana Firas, President of the World Council on Monuments and Sites/ICOMOS- Jordan and UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador for Cultural Heritage, emphasized the pivotal role museums play in defining and shaping memory, identity, and meaning during a seminar at Yarmouk University.
According to Jordan News Agency, the seminar, titled "The Role of Cultural Heritage Museums in Promoting National Identity," was organized by the Faculty of Archaeology and Anthropology. Princess Dana addressed key concepts related to museum acquisitions and displays, including equity, compensation, and restitution. She highlighted that restitution involves more than returning artifacts; it is about restoring the integrity of historical narratives and enabling communities to share their histories in their own voices.
Princess Dana further explained that when museums alter or overlook historical references, they influence how future generations perceive history, belonging, and legitimacy. She underscored the role of universities as knowledge centers in preserving cultural heritage, and their impact on how museum narratives are shaped and presented.
She acknowledged the rapid changes in museum tools and methodologies, stressing the importance of youth understanding ongoing digital transformations and utilizing them in museum work. With advancing technology and the rise of digital platforms, she noted that museums are no longer confined to physical spaces, placing greater responsibility on stakeholders to develop governance frameworks, use technology responsibly, and amplify marginalized voices.
She pointed out that digital restitution offers new ways for communities to access and interpret their heritage, while technology aids preservation efforts through advanced imaging and data analysis.
Princess Dana concluded by emphasizing that despite the digital shift, the core mission of museums must remain as institutions preserving and presenting heritage, bridging past and present, people and place, and knowledge and identity.
University Chairman of the Board of Trustees Mahmoud Al-Sheyyab expressed gratitude to Princess Dana for supporting the symposium, noting that Jordan's antiquities shape national identity beyond tourism revenue. He stated that museums strengthen national belonging by preserving cultural heritage and connecting generations to a shared past.
Dean of the Faculty of Archaeology and Anthropology Khaled Al-Bashaireh highlighted the Princess's dedication to cultural heritage, noting the symposium's focus on linking heritage with sustainable development, responsible tourism, and education.
The event featured two scientific sessions discussing 17 research papers on the role of Jordanian museums in promoting national identity and preserving heritage, as well as poster presentations. It concluded with a general discussion on challenges and recommendations to enhance the role of museums in society.