Cultural
Initiatives Forum 2026 Begins in Muscat

Muscat,
18 Aug 2026 (ONA) — 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.

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
stems 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 truest 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.

—Ends/AG