Foreign Experts Discussed the Role of Museums in Shaping Tomorrow at the “Creating the Future” Symposium

As part of the “Creating the Future” Symposium held at the National Center “Russia,” a large-scale museum congress titled “The Museum as a Place for Shaping the Future” took place. Over three days, Russian and international experts representing various types of museums discussed whether museums are needed in the future, what form they should take, and the role of museum spaces in shaping tomorrow’s reality.

Majid Al Mansouri, Executive Director of the Museum of the Future (UAE), spoke about how new technological solutions used in the museum’s operations help convey meaningful messages to visitors. “We decided that it is essential not just to showcase the latest technologies and make them the centerpiece of the exhibition, but also to tell people stories about the future. Technologies help us create and present these stories in the most engaging way, providing the necessary user experience to captivate people with the future and convey essential meanings to our visitors,” said Majid Al Mansouri.

Azza Alnuaymi, Head of Project Management at the Museum of the Future, emphasized that museum exhibits can aid in finding solutions to universal human problems: “The Museum of the Future is not just a museum. It is a place where we experiment in search of a better future.”

Xue Jiang, Head of Cultural Development at the Chengdu Science Fiction Museum (China), expressed that the modern museum should embody universality so that everyone can find something to engage with. “We strive to enrich our visitors’ experience as much as possible, showing that Sci-Fi is not just about reading books. Our writers meet with fans, we hold sci-fi film screenings, sci-fi carnivals, performances. Additionally, our museum features a park by a lake where visitors can go kayaking. This is essential because young visitors, their parents, and even grandparents can all find something to do. And, of course, we hope our museum becomes a platform for cultural exchange,” said Xue Jiang.

Alexander Khramoy, Director of the National Historical Museum of the Republic of Belarus, addressed the important topic of global state support for the continued development of museums. Sayalbek Gizzatov, Academic Secretary of the National Museum of the Republic of Kazakhstan, explained why he believes that museums will remain relevant in the future. Sahar Al-Hunaidi, Advisor to the Culture Department of the Contemporary Art Platform Kuwait, invited a discussion on whether museums can set an example for society in building new harmonious relationships based on universal human values. Fayrouz Fekri, Deputy Director of the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization (Egypt), noted that the beauty of exhibitions and new archaeological discoveries can help modern individuals better understand themselves through the connection of eras.

The National Center “Russia” was established by order of President Vladimir Putin to preserve the legacy of the International Exhibition-Forum “Russia” and showcase the achievements of the country and its citizens on a permanent basis. The center’s activities involve federal government bodies, state-owned companies, corporations, and regions.

The first event at the National Center “Russia” was the international “Creating the Future” symposium, attended by more than 6,000 guests from 101 countries.