The Faculty of Archaeology and Tourism at the University of Jordan today completed the project of rehabilitating the Folk Heritage Museum, which began last year with support from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the American Center of Research (ACOR), and the Sustainable Cultural Heritage Enhancement Project with Local Community Engagement (SCHEB).
Dr. Adnan Al-Shayyab, the Vice Dean of the Faculty of Archaeology, delivered a speech during the ceremony held for this purpose, stating that local and international interest in cultural heritage underscores its importance as one of the fundamental sectors for the social and economic development of the country. He added that due to the university's commitment to contributing to the protection of heritage and cultural assets, it was necessary to develop the infrastructure of the museum, revitalize it, diversify its contents and collections, display them in a suitable and accessible environment to the public, and thus present them to generations, specialists, and researchers in a comprehensive manner that facilitates their study, understanding, and utilization.
Executive Director of the American Center of Research, Dr. Pierre Beirouti, spoke about the importance of museums and the necessity of their care, restoration, and conservation, considering them as cultural, scientific, educational, and pedagogical centers and essential components of the cultural identity of every society and state.
Tareq Mahayreh, the Project Coordinator for the Rehabilitation of the Folk Heritage Museum, emphasized the importance of having an advanced educational museum within the university to cover the practical aspect of the Faculty of Archaeology, especially for university students and schools in general. He explained that the rehabilitation concept, which included the development and modernization of the museum's display methods, the expansion of its spaces, the addition of sections, and the provision of equipment to preserve its heritage collections, stemmed from the museum's importance in creating a sense of belonging, achieving a better understanding of cultural heritage, connecting successive generations, disseminating the culture of the past in the present, and much more.
The program of the ceremony, managed by Dr. Nour Al-Aqili, was attended by Her Highness Princess Nouf bint Nasser, the President's Advisor for Engineering Affairs and Projects, Dr. Ghaleb Swayseh, along with university staff, guests, supporters, donors, and featured the museum's inauguration, a guided tour inside it, a traditional fashion show, folk dances, a video presentation about the museum's activities, and the honoring of financial and moral supporters and donors to the museum, as well as a section for traditional cuisine.