Sheikh Abdullah Al-Salem Cultural Center (ASCC) has been attracting hundreds of thousands of visitors since its establishment two years ago, solidifying the cultural movement in Kuwait and becoming one of the country’s scientific and cultural monuments.
ASCC, which opened in February 2018, has so far attracted over 580,000 visitors, affirming its high status in the cultural arena as one of Kuwait’s latest intellectual-educational beacons. The center has organized 88 activities, which ranged from exhibitions, lectures, and workshops to festivals, camps, and plays, touching on the 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 Ramadhan, 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 the 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’s 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 a 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 the development of biodiversity on 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 dinosaurs. Visitors will see the world of geology and geography come alive as they delve below the earth’s crust to its fiery core. How do 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 are encouraged. Visitors can get acquainted, at the Human Body and Mind museum, with how the 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 bodywork 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.
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 a culture of tolerance, respect for human rights, and peace among youth. It offers scientific programs like Coded, which teaches 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, a 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 programs 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.
Source- KUNA
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