Oman Cultural Days in Sydney portray country’s rich heritage-Oman Cultural Days concluded here yesterday. The four-day event was organised by the Ministry of Heritage and Culture in conjunction with the Sultanate’s Consulate General in Australia.
The delegation that took part in the event was led by Sayyid Badr bin Hamad al Busaidy, Secretary-General of the Foreign Ministry. He was accompanied by Shaikh Hamad bin Hilal al Maamari, Under-Secretary for Cultural Affairs, Khalid bin Hashel al Muwali, Sultanate’s Non-Resident Ambassador to Australia and Hamad bin Mohammed al Hajri, Consul General in Australia.
The delegation represented the Ministry of Heritage and Culture, Ministry of Information, Oman Consulate in Melbourne, Public Authority for Craft Industries, Omani Society for Fine Arts, Photography Club, Al Majd Folk Arts troupe , Omani designer Zakiya al Muwaliya and Omani students in Australia.
The event featured heritage and cultural shows, including an exhibition under the theme @ Oman — history and culture. There were silverworks, models of historical edifices, manuscripts and archival documents, Omani outfits, Omani publications and shows of fine arts, photographs and Arabic calligraphy.
Live programmes were also held showcasing traditional industries of shipbuilding, weaving, Omani fashion shows, Sabla, henna and traditional arts performances by Al Majd troupe.
On the sidelines of the event, a lecture on the Organisation of the Pacific Rim Countries for Regional Co-operation was delivered. Sayyid Badr spoke about the Sultanate, Australia and the culture of openness and tolerance while and Michael Jeffrey, Australia’s ex-governor-general, reviewed the economic relations between the two countries.
The opening of Oman Days was held under the auspices of Professor Marie Bashir, Governor of New South Wales.
The ceremony saw the launch of the first edition of @ Oman and Australia@ a book compiled by the Oman Consulate in Melbourne.
In a statement to Oman News Agency, Shaikh Hamad al Maamari said: "Oman Days were jovially welcomed by the Australian public and the elites in Sydney".
/> He noted the Cultural Days managed to replace a stereotyped image held by a large a number of visitors with a true and vivid picture of the Arab and Islamic civilisation and the Omani heritage and culture in particular.
He said the Arab communities in Australia expressed appreciation for the Sultanate on the idea of organising the Cultural Days here.
The Cultural Days were comprehensive and meticulously prepared, he said and thanked the participants who contributed to the success of the programme.
The Cultural Days were organised as part of the a programme of external events laid out by the Ministry of Heritage and Culture to introduce the Sultanate’s cultural heritage and its prosperous presence to the outside world.