S1:E9 Toward intercultural understanding and empathy – Manal Ataya in conversation with Criena Gehrke

The Three Bells

Summary:
In this episode, our host Criena Gehrke speaks with Manal Ataya, the Director General of the Sharjah Museums authority. They discuss the educational value of the arts, particularly in terms of promoting inclusivity and diversity as well as cultivating empathy. After, Criena is joined by fellow host Stephanie Fortunato to discuss key takeaways. Drawing on their own experiences, they expand on the importance of the arts in enabling cross-cultural experiences and exchanges – and explore how cultural leaders could create more collective experiences that invite solutions to the social, political, and ecological challenges the world faces today.

DOWNLOAD TRANSCRIPT

References:

1. Sharjah Museums Authority
2. Laurie Anderson’s Concert For Dogs at HOTA, Home of the Arts
3. Commemorative Works in the City of Providence
4. The Three Bells Ep 8: Reimagining the future of theatre and live performance – Jesse Cameron Alick in conversation with Adrian Ellis
5. The Three Bells Ep 4: Towards transformational cultural leadership – Diane Ragsdale in conversation with Stephanie Fortunato

Bio:

Manal Ataya is a museum professional with over 15 years of senior executive experience in museum development and cultural diplomacy. As Director-General of the Sharjah Museums Authority, she oversees a team of 600 staff working in Sharjah’s network of 16 museums. Her mandate includes strategic development of future museum projects, advising in museum and cultural policy, fostering partnerships with the international museum community and leading the efforts to deliver international best practice in museum services. The museums include dedicated collections of modern and contemporary Arab art, Islamic Art, Gulf heritage and UAE archaeology.

Ataya is a leading figure in the UAE cultural sector and a recognized expert in her field, responsible for implementing His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan Bin Mohammed Al Qasimi’s directives for future museum and cultural heritage related projects. She serves on numerous advisory boards including Global Cultural Districts Network; the University of Sharjah’s College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences; Make-A-Wish Foundation and ICCROM-Sharjah, the Arab region’s field office of the UN’s body for cultural heritage preservation.

Ataya was awarded the Order of Art & Letters by the Republic of France in 2018 for her significant contributions to culture.