The Sultanate of Oman, represented by the National Museum and the National Records & Archives Authority, participated as a guest of honour on the occasion of the 80th anniversary of the opening of the National Museum of Fine Arts in Minsk, the Republic of Belarus. On this occasion, the National Museum organised an exhibition entitled: ‘Oman: The Jewel of the East; Crafts Heritage’ as part of the events of ‘The Day of Oman’; an initiative to introduce Oman`s culture, civilization and history in the international platforms. 

The exhibition was inaugurated on Wednesday (18th September 2019 CE) – (18th Muharram 1441 AH) under the patronage of his Excellency Yury Bondar, Minister of Culture of the Republic of Belarus. The inauguration was attended by a number of ministers, undersecretaries and ambassadors of Sisterly countries in the Republic of Belarus, in addition to a group of academics, artists and those interested in cultural affairs and museums. The exhibition which will run until 19th January 2020 CE, showcases (104) objects from the National Museum, (10) objects from the National Records & Archive Authority and (15) art works from Sawarah; a society established as part of the Child Welfare Centre activities under Ministry of Social Development. 

The exhibition also highlights the Omani traditional handcrafts that represent the Sultanate and its people through past and present; as it documents the various cultural lifestyles. In the exhibition, the National Museum showcases a selective traditional costumes and jewelleries, ceremonial weapons, and traditional handicrafts such as daggers and incense burners which are the most prominent traditional handicrafts in Oman. It also highlights many aspects of Oman`s ancient civilization such as food serving, hospitality, traditional fabric and the status of camels in Oman.

 A Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the National Record and Archive Authority and the National Archives of the Republic of Belarus; an effective contribution to further develop cultural cooperation, holding documentary events and conferences, and organising joint conferences and seminars.

The Omani delegation was led by Dr. Hamad bin Mohammed al-Dhoyani, Chairman of the National Records and Archives Authority and a member of the Board of Trustees of the National Museum, with the participation of His Excellency Yousef bin Isa al-Zadjali, the Sultanate`s Ambassador to the Russian Federation, and Mr. Jamal bin Hassan al-Moosawi, Director General of the National Museum. 

The National Museum of the Sultanate of Oman, opened July 30, 2016, is the Sultanate`s flagship cultural institution, showcasing the nation’s heritage from the earliest human settlement on the Oman Peninsula some two million years ago through to the present day. It aims to provide opportunities for cultural expression, innovation, and the transfer of traditional skills and knowledge from one generation to the next. The Museum houses (7000) objects within (14) permanent galleries and offers (33) digital immersive experiences, a fully equipped Learning Centre, conservation facilities, an ultra-high definition cinema, and discovery areas for children. It features an integrated infrastructure for special needs, and is the first museum in the Middle East to adopt Arabic Braille script for the visually impaired. The museum contains a voluminous collection of prehistoric metallic artifacts. It also houses the region’s first open-plan museum storage concept, where visitors can learn about the various processes that artifacts go through before they are put on display. 

the National Museum of Fine Arts in the Republic of Belarus was opened in 1939 CE, and it is the largest museum in the country; it houses over 30,000 artefacts grouped into 20 miscellaneous collections and two main representative ones dedicated to the national and world art that feature works by artists from the 15th-20th centuries CE from Western Europe and Asia. The unique collection of the Belarusian art includes works of ancient iconic paintings, sculptures, woodcarvings, textile, paintings from the 19th century CE, works of decorative and

applied arts, and works of arts from the 20th century CE. The National Art Museum conducts scientific research and restoration works, expands its library holdings and updates the electronic catalogue in order to exchange images of works of art with other museums. The museum does not only host exhibitions by Belarusian and foreign artists, but also organizes lectures and interactive tours, and has been operating a children`s art workshop for over 20 years. Today, the museum is also an art platform that hosts meetings with artists and art critics, literary and music evenings, presentations of books, and painting workshops.