Under the Theme: “Oral Traditions in a Changing World” (SIH) to Organize the Third Heritage Conference Next Tuesday
The Sharjah Institute for Heritage will organize the third edition of the Heritage Conference from July 7 to 10, under the theme "Oral Traditions in a Changing World: From Live Performance to Digital Media." The conference will bring together a distinguished group of researchers, academics, experts, and specialists from the UAE and several Arab countries. It forms part of the Institute's ongoing efforts to strengthen the presence of intangible cultural heritage and to develop effective mechanisms for its safeguarding, preservation, and transmission to future generations.
A Vision for the Future of Oral Traditions
The conference reflects the Sharjah Institute for Heritage's vision of safeguarding humanity's cultural heritage while exploring the future of oral traditions amid rapid digital transformation. Oral traditions are viewed as a living cultural system that creates and recreates meaning across generations, serving as one of the most significant pillars of collective memory through the values, knowledge, and inherited experiences they embody, sustained by live performance and community practice.
Five Scientific Themes and Specialized Sessions
Over the course of three days, the conference will examine a wide range of academic and intellectual issues through five main themes:
- Oral traditions between theoretical foundations and digital transformation.
- Oral traditions and intangible cultural heritage: concepts, functions, and safeguarding challenges.
- Oral traditions and performance in the age of algorithms.
- Safeguarding oral traditions in the digital era: institutional dimensions and international experiences.
- Legal protection and the rights of communities that safeguard heritage.
The conference will also feature specialized academic sessions highlighting the latest Arab and international studies and experiences in documenting and digitizing oral traditions. Discussions will address the challenges facing intangible cultural heritage in light of rapid technological developments, while presenting institutional best practices for preserving cultural heritage.
35 New Publications Launched Alongside the Conference
The conference will also celebrate the Institute's scholarly achievements through the launch of 35 new publications covering a wide range of topics in heritage, folklore, and specialized studies. These publications reflect the Institute's research and knowledge-producing role in enriching the Arabic library and promoting authorship and publishing in the field of heritage.
Al Musallam: Oral Traditions Are the Pulse of Cultural Identity
Dr. Abdulaziz Al Musallam, Chairman of the Sharjah Institute for Heritage, affirmed that the third edition of the Heritage Conference embodies the Institute's vision of keeping pace with the global transformations affecting the heritage sector while preserving its authenticity and identity. He noted that oral traditions are no longer merely a legacy preserved in memory; they now require innovative tools that ensure their sustainability and transmission to future generations within an increasingly digital environment.
Al Musallam said:"At the Sharjah Institute for Heritage, we believe that oral traditions are the heartbeat of communities' cultural identity. Their safeguarding cannot be achieved through documentation alone, but also by preserving their living contexts, empowering the communities that carry them, and benefiting from modern technologies and digital media as supportive tools for transmitting this human legacy into the future. The conference brings together leading experts and researchers from the UAE and across the Arab world to exchange knowledge and expertise and to produce practical recommendations that contribute to advancing policies for safeguarding intangible cultural heritage and strengthening its presence locally, regionally, and internationally."
Publications Strengthen the Institute's Academic Presence
He added that the launch of 35 new publications alongside the conference demonstrates the Sharjah Institute for Heritage's commitment to its scientific and cultural mission, its support for academic research, and the production of specialized knowledge, thereby reinforcing Sharjah's position as a regional and international center for heritage studies and the safeguarding of intangible cultural heritage.