Balai Khazanah Islam Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah, in collaboration with The Embassy of the United States of America in Brunei Darussalam, today launched the opening ceremony of the Museums Collection Management Program.
The three-day program, held at Balai Khazanah, will be conducted by the Interim Deputy Director for Collections and Exhibitions at the Smithsonian National Museum of Asian Art, Danielle Bennett, who is visiting under the U.S. Speaker Program.
The U.S. Speaker Program is a program under the U.S. Department of State Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, which connects American experts with international audiences on a wide variety of topics ranging from cultural preservation to economic prosperity or educational diplomacy.
Yang Berhormat Pehin Datu Lailaraja Major General (Rtd.) Dato Paduka Seri Hj Awang Halbi bin Hj Mohd Yussof, Minister at Prime Minister’s Office and Minister of Defence II, who is also the Chairman of the BKISHHB Advisory Board, attended the ceremony as the guest of honor and officiated the launching of the program.
Also in attendance was the U.S. Ambassador to Brunei Darussalam, Her Excellency Caryn R. McClelland.
Over 30 museum experts and administrators from Balai Khazanah, Museums Department, Brunei History Centre, Islamic Da’wah Centre, Royal Brunei Armed Forces Museum, Royal Brunei Police Force Museum and Brunei Darussalam Currency Gallery are participating in the program, which will cover various areas such as policies and ethics of managing artifacts, records management, and preventive care of museum collections.
Director of Balai Khazanah informed that this program is not merely an isolated endeavour but a platform to introduce Balai Khazanah’s capabilities to the world.
It serves as a testament to our commitment to becoming a prominent centre for preserving and disseminating Islamic knowledge, as envisioned by His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam.
Her Excellency the U.S. Ambassador to Brunei Darussalam said that the collaboration on the workshop was timely, coinciding with the 40th anniversary of U.S.-Brunei diplomatic relations – a relationship anchored in friendship.
She continued “In that spirit, let us use this workshop as a time to build bridges of understanding and friendship that will endure for generations to come.”
