BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 28. A panel session
titled "Museums and Heritage Sites as Spaces for Intercultural
Dialogue" has been conducted within the framework of the 7th World
Forum on Intercultural Dialogue in Baku on Wednesday, Trend’s correspondent
reports from the event.


The panel brought together scholars, cultural professionals, and
policymakers to deepen the understanding of the principles of
intercultural dialogue within museums and heritage sites, and to
support their practical application.


In her remarks, Head of the State Service for the Protection,
Development, and Restoration of Cultural Heritage under the
Ministry of Culture, Sabina Hajiyeva, noted that Azerbaijan has
served as a meeting point for religious traditions and cultures for
centuries.


"In Azerbaijan, one can see churches, synagogues, and mosques
situated side by side. This reflects the reality of the fact just
mentioned," she said.


Hajiyeva mentioned that there are 144 museums in Azerbaijan,
each rich with compelling exhibits.


"Following the liberation of Karabakh and Eastern Zangezur from
occupation, religious and historical monuments are being restored.
This demonstrates that Azerbaijan approaches the preservation of
tangible and intangible heritage with great care and commitment,"
she said.


Director of the Carpet Museum, Amina Malikova, added that modern
museums must engage in a dialogue with visitors using a language
that everyone can understand; for the Azerbaijan National Carpet
Museum, that language is traditional art.


"We are accustomed to conducting this dialogue through the
language of traditional art, the language of carpets. In
Azerbaijan, we often say that every pattern contains a specific
code, a kind of encoded alphabet that carries a message from our
ancestors.


Modern museums differ significantly from those of the past and
must take into account the expectations of visitors from different
generations," she added.


Community Partnerships Manager at the British Museum, Jo-Anne
Sunderland Bowe, noted that a museum should create an environment
where people feel free to ask questions.


"People should be allowed to share their own experiences. At the
same time, we must help promote cultural heritage. Museums are
spaces where differences and examples of diverse cultures come
together. For this reason, we should strive to increase interest in
museums," she remarked.


Deputy Director of Interpretation, Learning, and Public Programs
at the Smithsonian Museum, Nicole Dowd, emphasized the need to
establish global partnerships involving museums, as this would make
it possible to bring works of art to a wider range of
communities.


The 7th World Forum on Intercultural Dialogue is taking place in
Baku from October 27 through October 29, under the theme "Dialogue
for a Shared Future: Building bridges in a Fractured World."


The forum is the primary international event of the 'Baku
Process,' an initiative launched in 2008 at the proposal of the
President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev. First organized in 2011, the
forum brings together countries, international organizations,
experts, and representatives of civil society to engage in
intercultural dialogue and cooperation.