SAWA Museum Studies Programme is the first non-discriminatory and diversity-oriented museum educational programme for young professionals in Arabic-speaking countries and Germany. In Arabic sawa means together. This name was chosen to shed light on the structure of this exchange programme through Museum Studies: the lectures are carried out by experts and attended by participants from Arabic-speaking countries and Germany together in equal parts. A museum expert from the UAE and a museum expert from Europe lead the group of participants, composed in equal parts of young museum experts from the UAE, the MENA region and from Berlin. In addition, the curriculum is developed jointly by both experts to meet the needs of all participants, who operate in very different contexts. The programme is divided in two stages: an up to ten days visit to Sharjah and a corresponding same length visit to Berlin.
The aim of the programme is to increase the knowledge and competences of the participants regarding two aspects: to better adapt museology to local conditions and at the same time to practice a dialogue based on the similarities and differences of all participants and teachers. That is the reason why the academic programme starts with a non-discriminatory diversity training and a joint reflection on the history and the role of museums in both respective societies. SAWA’s purpose is to increase awareness of discrimination and privilege on both sides, to attract new visitors, and to broaden perspectives for one’s practice. Together participants and lecturers analyse the challenges that museums in Oman, Palestine, Egypt, Jordan, Germany or the UAE are currently facing and which questions they are dealing with.
Cost coverage for the onsite phases in Sharjah and Berlin includes:
- International and national transport.
- Accommodation.
