RIYADH: Owners of private museums and collectors of ancient artifacts have called on the Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities (SCTA) to provide them with places to showcase and sell their collections. Many of them are currently using parts of their properties for this purpose. The owners lauded the private museum owners' forum that kicked off in Riyadh Saturday. Saeed Muhammad Al-Bakri, a Namas-city museum owner, said the event was a chance for the owners to introduce themselves and to get to know each other, adding that Prince Sultan Bin Salman, President of the SCTA, listened to the owners' demands and promised he would help. Al-Bakri called for annual financial aid and equipment for preserving items. Sa'ad Bin Abdullah Al-Amri, owner of Halba Museum, said the forum “was like a dream come true”. He said the owners received promises from Prince Sultan that their demands will be met soon. “Financial support is the main problem for private museums.” He said mayoralties have also not responded to requests for places for museums, especially since large spaces are needed these days for different sections. Al-Amri called on the SCTA to implement its “consultative and guidance role” and to make sure sums granted to private museums are disbursed properly. “If the museums get financial support then there will be innovation, development and maintenance of relics.” Saleh Muhammad Al-Mazroua, owner of Arrass Historic Museum, said he was delighted at the SCTA president's concern about the museum owners' demands and his promise to solve their problems. “He was aware of our requirements and problems which he promised to solve soon.” Al-Mazroua said it costs a lot to host visitors, especially when there are visits from prominent local and international figures. Another issue is the cost of guarding the museums, he added. Al-Mazroua suggested that banks introduce loans for owners, and that museums be regarded as tourist sites in the Kingdom. Abdulhadi Ahmad Aal Mahdi, owner of Tanmiya Museum in Khamees Mushayt, said he had questions that have been answered by officials at the forum. Aal Mahdi cited problems he faced running his museum, including the fact that he had it at his home and was often annoyed by visitors. In addition, his employers do not allow him to permit him to open the museum during working hours in the morning, when schools usually visit. He called on the SCTA to allow museum owners to leave work when there is an official visit, or to provide them jobs at the SCTA. Ayed Bin Hadhid Al-Mutairi, owner of Badiat Alshalalha Museum in Madina, said the difficulties facing the sector “are not huge” and can be overcome. The main problems are lack of financial resources, lack of places for showcasing collections, and not informing tourists. A museum owner from Hail said that most museums receive visitors free of charge and called for financial support from the SCTA to host visitors. “We spend a lot of money hosting visiting delegations and individuals,” the museum owner said.
