The Government aims to develop policies for the Maldives' heritage sector by seeking the views and advice of professionals working in the field, Minister of Arts, Culture and Heritage Heena Waleed has said.
The Minister made the remarks while speaking to the media following a special consultation meeting titled "The Voice of Heritage Professionals". She noted that this was the first meeting of its kind, bringing together professionals actively engaged in the heritage sector to discuss key issues and provide input.
According to the Minister, participants represented a wide range of fields, including traditional Maldivian medicine, the visual arts, and small businesses connected to cultural heritage.
She described the opportunity to meet with practitioners and discuss matters relating to their respective fields as an important step towards strengthening the sector. She added that the discussions had already generated valuable ideas and identified numerous areas where collaborative efforts could be undertaken.
Minister Heena Waleed said the Government's approach is to shape the future direction of the sector through the professional guidance, expertise and recommendations of heritage practitioners.
"One of the Government's key policies is to listen to the people and to the professionals working in the sector. Our aim is to hear their views, advice and recommendations, and to develop the sector through consultation and collaboration," the Minister said.
Reviving Maldivian national identity was one of the key pledges made by President Dr Mohamed Muizzu in his inaugural presidential address. As part of the Government's 2.0 agenda, while public services are being digitalised, efforts are also underway to support the digital transformation of the country's cultural heritage sector.
These efforts include initiatives to facilitate the digitalisation of heritage resources as well as programmes aimed at building human capacity within the sector.
"The Voice of Heritage Professionals" meeting launched
Ministry of Arts, Culture and Heritage held the special meeting titled "The Voice of Heritage Professionals" to increase the participation of artists by incorporating their views and advice into planning and decision-making within the cultural sector.
According to the Ministry, the initiative is an important effort launched by the Government to better understand the perspectives of those working in the sector and to identify solutions to the challenges and concerns facing the arts community.
During the meeting, Minister Heena, spent considerable time engaging with artists, listening to discussions about their work and exchanging views on how cultural activities can be further developed through collaboration with the Government.
Participants emphasised the importance of holding regular meetings of this nature, where professionals from different artistic disciplines can come together to exchange ideas and discuss common challenges.
The event was accompanied by a relaxed cultural programme. Attendees were offered a selection of traditional teas that were once popular among Maldivians, along with light refreshments. The National Heritage Centre also displayed a small exhibition, while traditional board games such as "Ohvalhu" and "Thinhama" were available for participants to enjoy.