As part of its aims to highlight Jordan's archeological and cultural heritage, Jordan's first national museum "The Jordan Museum", held a reception at the Dead Sea Panoramic Complex to announce it's future plans.
The idea behind establishing a museum set on international modern standards is to present the history and cultural heritage of the Kingdom to Jordanians and visitors alike. This Museum is a non-profit entity working to serve Jordan's society. It is founded to tell the story of Jordan's land and people and to reflect the Jordanians' past, their present and their strive towards a brighter future. This concept was first brought to life by Her Majesty Queen Rania Al-Abdullah who chairs the museum's governing Board of Trustees, and in light of her position she laid the cornerstone for the museum's building which is located at the Ras al-Ayn area in downtown Amman back in 2005
The event which was held under the patronage of the Museum’s Vice Chairman of the Board of Trustees HRH Princess Sumaya Bint El Hassan was attended by several prominent figures from the Jordanian society. Attendees included HRH Princess Wijdan Ali, the Minister of Tourism and Antiquities H.E. Mr. Munir Nassar, the Mayor of Amman, Engineer Omar Maani, representatives from various diplomatic missions operating in Jordan, and members of the museum's board of trustees amongst others
In her welcoming note to attending guests Princess Sumaya Bint El Hassan said, "the Jordan museum will be a place that embodies our belief in the importance of education, learning, personal growth, and discovery. It will be a place that demonstrates our commitment to creating learning environments and experiences that allow children to broaden their horizons, enrich their lives, and open their minds. This entity will also provide an opportunity for visitors to think about the historical and cultural aspects that make up the society that surrounds them, and it will also serve as a window on an exciting world for all visitors to enjoy."
During the reception's proceedings, Mr. Jafar Toukan the museum's chief architect gave a brief presentation about the museum's architectural significance, and how it is to be built to reflect the different historical periods that Jordan had witnessed over the years. The construction work for the new buildings is being done by a joint venture project between Jurong Consultants Private Ltd. / Synergy Constructions private Ltd. (Singapore).
Another presentation was also given during the event by Engineer Sami Halaseh from the Ministry of Public Works and Housing, and the Head of the Tourism Sector Development Project Management Unit in the ministry whereby he spoke briefly about the seven development projects that are to be implemented as part of this move for advancement. These projects include the Dead Sea Panoramic Complex, which is the location used for holding this event, the renovation of the Old Salt Areas, the renovation of the Karak Museum and others. These seven projects are funded by the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC), and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA)
From her end, the chief consultant of the Jordan museum Dr. Khairia Amro stated that the Jordan museum's exhibitions at the Orientation hall aim to entice visitors to explore the museum and the cultural sites in Jordan. She Also added: "The story of Jordan is told through nine main themes that run through the Chronological Flow Galleries: from the Palaeolothic to the Ottoman, the Folklore or "Living History", and ending with the Modern Jordan or "The Royal Gallery".
Commenting further on the museum's facilities Dr. Khairia Amro said," The museum will pay special attention to children's needs, for their needs will be catered for in a section called: Hands-on History. In this area, the children will be able to express and develop their ideas and creativity, which will be achieved through organized activities such as pottery, writing, painting, sewing, and acting for them to engage in."
