Diyarbakır museum raises its standarts

DİYARBAKIR - Anatolia News Agency

The Diyarbakır Museum has begun collaboration with London’s Victoria and Albert Museum. The project is part of a grant program for European Union museums.

The Diyarbakır Museum is looking to improve its administrative practices in the hopes of becoming a facility operating at an international standard, according to museum officials.

The museum has begun collaboration with London’s Victoria and Albert Museum to develop museum services.

Speaking to Anatolia news agency, Diyarbakır Museum Manager Nevin Soyukaya said the aim was to bring the museum up to an international standard and improve the services provided in the museum.
The museum will also become a venue to reflect the heritage of Diyarbakır, she said.

The project entitled “Increasing and developing the capacity of Diyarbakır Museum with counter-cultural dialogue” aims to identify the deficiencies at the museum and increase the potential of the curators and other employees, Soyukoya said.

The project is a part of a grant program for European Union museums.

Diyarbakır’s rich cultural heritage will be the main focus of the museum, Soyukaya said, noting that there were many excavations underway in the city.

“The researchers who are running the digs say their finds will give a new understanding to the human heritage and history of the city,” said Soyukaya, adding that the excavations were very important because it meant there was much vital information about Diyarbakır’s historical heritage that had yet to be discovered.

“We are also working on an infrastructure project to allow researchers to come to Diyarbakır and work on artifacts,” added Soyukaya.

Soyukaya also said that because museums were institutions for learning, the new project was also creating educational programs.

“People who have been pushed to the sidelines of society, for example women and children, can take part in these educational programs. Our aim is to educate them on our heritage. With the help of Victoria and Albert we will develop our children programs in the museum,” he said.

The museum will also exhibit artworks, said Soyukaya. “That’s why we will have arts and culture events.”