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| HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum touring The Women Museum with professor Rafia Obaid Ghubash and HH Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum © |
A center that portrays the culture and history of Emarati women, the Women Museum was founded by professor Rafia Obaid Ghubash in 2012 with the purpose of educating the public and the future generation of women about the influences of women in the past.
By purchasing an old house in the area of the gold souks named “Bait al banat”, the perfect medium for Rafia’s purpose was found. Professor Rafia states that her main concern is “culture and heritage connected to aspects that relate to women. I have developed this idea to create a cultural center focusing on the history of Emirati women so that the new generations may have a chance to learn more about the role of their grandmothers: in politics, economy, education, literature, and so on. The documentation of such information ascertains that women in the history of UAE have contributed
to every aspect of social activity. My second concern was that the local people have left their old city and never came back to visit, therefore, I thought of creating an activity that might bring people back to it.”
The Women Museum is a three-story building that consists of Diwan Ouash Bint Khalifa, a famous poet, where her biography and poems are put on display. The Women’s studies center, a research center which is being established as a resource library focusing on the field of women studies offering visitors access to documentations and archives, and finally the Bait Al Banat Gallery.
The Bait Al Banat gallery has temporary fixtures of artwork and artistic projects by female artists exhibiting the diverse scope of talent. The exhibit offers more than just a pretty sight; it offers workshops, discussions and lectures to keep an active atmosphere around the museum and give visitors an in-depth look at the role of women in society with past, present, and future influences.
From antique jewelry and artwork to vintage photographs and literary documents, the Women’s Museum sharpens the memory of the contributions of women to the culture and rich history of the UAE and reminds us that the best is yet to come.
www.womenmuseumuae.com