Bait Al Zubair celebrates its 20th anniversary

Muscat: Bait Al Zubair, on Wednesday, celebrated its 20th anniversary, marking two decades of creating enriching cultural events and experiences in Oman.
The event was held under the auspices of His Highness Sayyid Mohammed bin Salim Al Said, whose father, His Highness Sayyid Salim bin Ali Al Said, first opened Bait Al Zubair back in 1998. Winners of the first Al Zubair Photography Award, which explored the theme of Omani architecture, were also announced at the celebration.
Commenting on the 20th anniversary, Al Zubair bin Mohammad Al Zubair said, “Over 20 years have passed since we began creating enriching cultural and educational experiences here at Bait Al Zubair. These experiences were motivated by our aim to elevate cultural awareness in Oman. The institution has grown and evolved conceptually over the years, driven by the changes Oman has experienced through modernisation and our ever-evolving responsibilities towards preserving and protecting our culture. Bait Al Zubair has helped build bridges and offer a safe space to nurture Omani culture and fine arts, encourage local engagement, and develop original artistic thought and practice. This institution is not only here to spread knowledge, but to enable the talents and capabilities for Omani cultural innovation.”
Al Zubair continued, “We are proud to complete over two decades serving the field of arts and culture and beyond in Oman through programmes, workshops, and special projects. Our main objective at Bait Al Zubair is to support cultural development in the Sultanate through partnerships and enrich new talent and local capabilities in the cultural field. Our role is to educate Omanis across generations by retracing the rich culture and history of our nation. We hope that we have succeeded in spreading this message over the past two decades, and we hope to be a driving force in Oman’s art and cultural movement for years to come.”
Winners of the Al Zubair Photography Award were announced during the celebration. Claiming the grand prize of OMR4,000 was Ahmed Al Toqi for a photograph titled ‘Harat Al Rami.’ Taking the second prize of OMR2,000 was Ian White for his image of the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque, and the third prize of OMR1,000 was awarded to Sanjoy Sengupta for the image ‘Reflection.’
The anniversary celebration was accompanied by the opening of an exhibition in Bait Al Nahdhah at Bait Al Zubair, where a group of select photographs showcasing the theme of Omani architecture were exhibited.