H.E. Mr. Zouhir Ballalou, Algeria’s Minister of Culture and Arts, inaugurated, on May 18, 2025, the high-level regional international workshop on “The Protection and Promotion of Museums and Collections, their Diversity and their Role in Society”, held at the Palais de la Culture in Algiers, Algeria. 

The two-day workshop,  organized in collaboration between ALECSO, the Algerian Ministry of Culture and Arts, and UNESCO’s Regional Office in Rabat,  brought together experts and professionals from various countries and relevant regional and international organizations. National museum officials from Algeria were also in attendance, alongside representatives from the justice, security, and civil protection sectors.

In his opening remarks, the Minister stressed that museums have moved beyond their traditional role of exhibition and preservation to become dynamic spaces for reinforcing cultural diversity and promoting the values of citizenship, justice, and belonging. He added that the Ministry of Culture and Arts is working, in line with a national vision, to modernize museums and promote their openness and effectiveness in serving society. He also stressed the importance of digital transformation in enabling the public, especially youth, to access and learn about heritage through digitizing collections, promoting documentation and training, and enhancing communication between the museum and its public.

ALECSO was represented by Dr. Humaid Al-Nofali, Director of Culture, who started his statement by conveying the greetings of H.E. Dr. Mohamed Ould Amar, Director-General of ALECSO, and his best wishes for the success of the event. He then reviewed ALECSO’s efforts to support and strengthen the work of museum in Arab countries. He also touched on the current status  and future prospects of museums in the Arab world.