Renovation of Omani French museum planned

Muscat: Bait Faransa, or the Omani French museum, which was established in 1992, is likely to undergo a renovation next year, a French embassy official said.
“The museum will be fully renovated and will present the collections in a modern and attractive way. Besides the history of relations between the two countries, the museum will include a new section on the architectural heritage of old Muscat,” Clément Moutel, counsellor for cooperation and cultural action at the French Embassy in Oman said.
The Omani French Museum was established in 1992 to preserve historical relations between the two nations, and is located in the former residence of the French Consul in Old Muscat.
In 1989, His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said decided to transform the house into a museum dedicated to the celebration of French-Omani relations.
The museum was inaugurated in January 1992 during the state visit of former French president François Mitterrand to Oman.
“The museum showcases the relationship between the two countries since the 17th century in
the political, economic and cultural fields.
“The museum is the property of Oman’s Ministry of Heritage and Culture and is run by this ministry.”
“We are working out the renovation plans for the last two years, ever since the two governments entered into an agreement in 2014,” Ambassador Roland Dubertrand had told the Times of Oman in an earlier interview.
Promoting French culture among the Omani people and developing cultural ties between the two countries is also a priority for the French Embassy.
“The French Embassy proposes cultural activities on a regular basis. The majority of cultural activities are organised at the French-Omani Centre. “The centre organises every month an exhibition by a French or Omani artist, a French movie screening, and a conference on a subject related to Oman.
“Some other activities are also proposed, such as music concerts, cooking classes, and the embassy also organises cultural events on its own, such as music concerts or movie festivals. At the end of December, the French Embassy, along with Arabesque, will organise a concert for Dorsaf Hamdani, a Tunisian artist who sings in French and Arabic.”
On the institutional level, the embassy works with Omani artistic societies to develop connections between artists. They are also working with the Royal Opera House Muscat (ROHM) to propose collaborations with French Opera houses, and the Opera de Lyon will present Don Giovanni in November at ROHM.
“The French Embassy also supports French archaeological missions that work in Oman (there are currently four of them). The works of these missions and their findings highlight the country’s heritage, and are highly appreciated by the Omani authorities.”