Kuwait Times, Sunday, Feb 06, 2022 | Rajab 5, 1443
Sheikh Abdullah Al-Salem Cultural Center, a civilized beacon in Kuwait
Kuwait:
Sheikh Abdullah Al-Salem Cultural Center (ASCC) has attracted hundreds of
thousands of visitors since its establishment, solidifying the cultural movement
in Kuwait and becoming one of the country’s scientific and cultural monuments.
ASCC, which opened in February 2018, has attracted over 580,000 visitors as of
March 2020, affirming its high status on the cultural arena as one of Kuwait’s
latest intellectual-educational beacon. The center has organized 88 activities,
which ranged from exhibitions, lectures and workshops to festivals, camps and
plays, touching on interests of different segments of the society.
Around 500 international organizations visited ASCC, which was also keen on
establishing partnerships with embassies and similar international agencies.
ASCC held cultural and scientific workshops about rocks, recycling, plants and
energy sources among others, a camp for children during Ramadan, summer camps,
space academy, Eid festivals and events in the Planetarium. ASCC participated in
two events abroad, the first was in Venice, Italy, in 2019, and the second was
last October in Berlin, Germany.
The center won the prestigious ABB LEAF award as the Public Building of the year
2018, as well as four international awards. ASCC, named after late Amir Sheikh
Abdullah Al-Salem Al-Sabah, is situated on the seaside Arabian Gulf Road and was
built in the same place where Sheikh Abdullah Al-Salem High School, one of
Kuwait first government schools.
ASCC, occupying 127,000 square meters with a parking lot for 1,231 cars,
consists of eight buildings, six museums, one conference hall and documents’
facility. The center, which has 25 water fountains, comprises 22 display halls
with over 1,100 pieces of relics and unique items. The center, built in 20
months, consists of many facilities like theaters, green areas, gift shops,
restaurants, coffee shops and outdoor sitting areas. Sheikh Abdullah Al-Salem
Theater hosts local and international events, in addition to specialized
conferences and exhibitions. It is designed to trigger inspiration for
exhibitors, artists and students. The six family-friendly exhibitions depict
historic, cultural, intellectual, scientific and technological worlds.
One exhibition enlightens visitors about the natural world for better
comprehension of ecosystems and how they influence development of biodiversity
of in the planet over millions of years. The exhibition enables visitors to
explore Southeast Asia’s rainforests and see how mangroves help the ecology.
Visitors can dive into an underwater wonderland and witness the wildlife,
particularly in Kuwait. The visitors can also test their skills in the
exhibition’s interactive displays and learn about how humans can keep the
coastal community alive and help sustain the planet. In the “Our Earth” museum,
the visitors are welcomed into the world of the dinosaurs.
They see the amazing reptiles and mammals that lived on earth up to 65 million
years ago and also be bedazzled at the size of the huge creatures that inhabited
Kuwait’s prehistoric seas, how did they sound? What did they eat? The exhibition
allows visitors to become paleontologists for the day in the Dino Lab and try to
unearth their own dinosaur. Visitors will see the world of geology and geography
come alive as they delve below the earth’s crust to its fiery core. How does
Kuwait’s industry and climate affect the world and how can we affect changes in
the environment, at home and in the community to ensure a cleaner, greener
planet.
The Transportation and Robots museum display how through centuries
transportation has taken people from elementary hot air balloons to jet engines,
horse-drawn carriages to cars and small boats to oil tankers. Learn about
Kuwait’s maritime heritage and its long history of boat building. Also in the
exhibition, visitors could meet the resident Giant Robot and discover the latest
ways robotic technology is assisting humans. Visitors are welcomed to the
demonstration area to learn about Artificial Intelligence (AI) and interact with
robots, or learn about basic scientific processes in the Experiment Gallery.
Innovators will enjoy the Maker Space where creative ideas and scientific
innovation is encouraged. Visitors can get acquainted at the Human Body and Mind
Museum with how human body and mind work, their secrets and will realize how the
brain act as super-computers with encapsulating exhibits explain how the brain
and body work in tandem. The importance of health becomes clear when visitors
learn how human bodies are tested when under attack. Through a 4D show, the
interactive character Kashef enlightens audiences to the marvels of the body’s
indefatigable defense mechanisms.
Golden Age of Islam
The Arabic Islamic Science Museum focuses on the Golden Age of Islam and the
innumerable scientific, cultural and artistic contributions of Muslims and Arabs
to modern day science. The Arabic Islamic Science Museum highlights the
scientists’ groundbreaking work and accomplishments allowing visitors to proudly
reconnect with the inspirational message of Islam, which actively encouraged
scientific discovery.
It recognizes the work of Arab and Islamic scholars in the fields of
Exploration, Medicine, Astronomy and Engineering; and sees how scientific
discoveries contributed to the architectural wonders of the Islamic world.
Moreover, it offers the spectacular opportunity to converse with ancient
polymaths Al-Khwarizmi and Al-Bairuni who appear to have been brought to life in
a uniquely entertaining exhibit.
Meanwhile, the study of space and the universe has always evoked mystery and
inspiration. The Centre’s Space exhibit gives audiences an unprecedented
opportunity to explore the wonders of this unknown universe. The ASCC is also
promoting culture of tolerance, respecting of human rights and peace among
youth. It offers scientific programs like Coded, which teach boys and girls
principles of coding, as well as a Bricks for Kids program in which participants
learn scientific and mathematic skills through Lego Bricks. ASCC has six rooms
for training and workshops, a Fine Arts Center comprising galleries, exhibition
spaces, library, and artist studios.
The Fine Arts Centre offers impressive programs of high-quality exhibitions, and
collaborative shows for local artists, supporting them through communicating
with international artists and professionals. Aimed at renovating the fine arts
platform in Kuwait, it also hosts fairs, festivals, workshops, and conferences.
Artist in Residence is one of the program offered by the Fine Arts Center. This
program offers professional space for artists to develop their research and
creative practices, and explore new ideas. The Library connects all museums with
the Fine Arts Center, aimed at educating the young generation.