Hayam Ahmed MohammedSupreme Council of Antiquities

The British museum International Curatorial Training Programme

June 15-July 242009

Dear Allمصر في بكم وسهًال مصر أهًال في بكم وسهًال أهًال

مرحبًامرحبًاWelcome In EgyptWelcome In Egypt

स्वा�तस्वा�तMerhabaMerhaba欢迎欢迎

Bem-vindo Bem-vindo

A dream come true A dream come true II have never considered my self a lucky have never considered my self a lucky person, though I accomplished some good person, though I accomplished some good things in my life but I always needed to do things in my life but I always needed to do great effort to do it. great effort to do it.

This was assured to me atThis was assured to me at 24th of 24th of

FebruaryFebruary 2009, The day I supposed to do 2009, The day I supposed to do an interview to the B.M curatorial training an interview to the B.M curatorial training but a few days before I had a very bad but a few days before I had a very bad injury at my left leg and I wasn’t sure if I injury at my left leg and I wasn’t sure if I will be able to go to the interview but will be able to go to the interview but finally I made it , and I, against all my finally I made it , and I, against all my expectations, succeeded. This made me expectations, succeeded. This made me think may be I’m a lucky person after all, think may be I’m a lucky person after all, but I didn’t realize how lucky I am except but I didn’t realize how lucky I am except after attending this training because my after attending this training because my gains of attending it professionally and gains of attending it professionally and personally were more than one can count, personally were more than one can count, but I will try to give you glimpse of it .but I will try to give you glimpse of it .

Professionally:Professionally:-Trained on most aspects of curatorial work and Trained on most aspects of curatorial work and dealings with artifacts;dealings with artifacts;

-the latest methods of exhibiting itthe latest methods of exhibiting it

-storing itstoring it

-restoring and conserving it restoring and conserving it

-transferring it with both large and limited transferring it with both large and limited budgetbudget

- watching new ways of using- watching new ways of using the museum’s the museum’s collections in educating, and entertaining people by collections in educating, and entertaining people by creating events, activities, festivals that attracts the creating events, activities, festivals that attracts the people, specially children, to the museum. people, specially children, to the museum.

-Knowing how to communicate with important Knowing how to communicate with important institutions such as the British library, Griffith institutions such as the British library, Griffith

institution, and institution, and Rayland library Rayland library which will be of a which will be of a great help in my academic research.great help in my academic research.

-create a network of relationships with specialists create a network of relationships with specialists from many countries.from many countries.

- Having the chance to visitHaving the chance to visit some historical some historical

buildings in London and to see how it was buildings in London and to see how it was conserved ,preserved and refurbished which conserved ,preserved and refurbished which given me some ideas that can be applied in given me some ideas that can be applied in historical buildings in Islamic Cairo .historical buildings in Islamic Cairo .

- the visits I had to many museums in London and the visits I had to many museums in London and Manchester had given me some ideas for my PHD Manchester had given me some ideas for my PHD thesis . thesis .

- I also had ideas for some joint researches with I also had ideas for some joint researches with the other participants and I hope that we will the other participants and I hope that we will start it soon.start it soon.

- Because of what I learned in the ICTP I was Because of what I learned in the ICTP I was chosen to work at Cairo orientation center which chosen to work at Cairo orientation center which was established at one of the historical was established at one of the historical buildings in old Cairo to guide tourists in the old buildings in old Cairo to guide tourists in the old city by providing them maps, information and city by providing them maps, information and pictures of the city and it will start working soon pictures of the city and it will start working soon ..

Personally:Personally:- Making new friends from all over the world and Making new friends from all over the world and Interacting with people from different nationalities. Interacting with people from different nationalities.

-Gain knowledge about the various civilizations of Gain knowledge about the various civilizations of thethe world.world.

-Stressing on some values such as the Stressing on some values such as the importance of team work, the good use importance of team work, the good use of of resources and time.resources and time.

-Although I wished many times to be as developed Although I wished many times to be as developed as you butas you but this didn’t never stopped me of being so this didn’t never stopped me of being so proud that I am Egyptian because one look to the proud that I am Egyptian because one look to the crowds around the pharonic antiques at all the U.K crowds around the pharonic antiques at all the U.K museums gives me the right to be. museums gives me the right to be.

-Gain more self- confidence.Gain more self- confidence.-improving my English .improving my English .-Having a lots of funHaving a lots of fun

SuggestionsSuggestions: :

- Give participants a chance to attend - Give participants a chance to attend one or two of the meetings which one or two of the meetings which discusses the museum's or discusses the museum's or department's problems to see how department's problems to see how this problems being solved and how this problems being solved and how the decisions is made.the decisions is made.

- Having coordination between the Having coordination between the programme of the B.M and the programme of the B.M and the programme at the partner museum to programme at the partner museum to avoid the repetition in the lectures.avoid the repetition in the lectures.

- -Making participants more involved in Making participants more involved in the activities of the museum the activities of the museum according to their professional according to their professional interestsinterests..

-- Having more optional activitiesHaving more optional activities..

Thanks for your attentionThanks for your attention