Page 15 - AHATA

A15
LOCAL Thursday 7 November 2019

Exploring the Role of Museums in the Aruban Society

Continued form Page 14 of the MANA to the Aruban public
Developing countries, such as Aru- and international visitors, the role of
ba “need support from internation- adequate cultural policy and man-
al community in safeguarding their agement should not be taken lightly.
precious heritage. Cultural heritage “UNESCO supports developing coun-
tourism is one of the best parts of the tries using museums’ potential to fos-
tourism industry, and is a more pow- ter social cohesion, notably among lo-
erful economic development tool. cal communities and disadvantaged
It has been revealed that museums groups” (UNESCO, 2019). Aruba in her
are now playing a major role not only effort should in a concrete way es-
in the wider sphere of arts, but also tablish an inclusive cultural roadmap,
within tourism and leisure. Museums which identifies a central cultural vi-
cannot no longer sit back and expect sion, a practical overview of contribu-
that people will start queuing up. Their tions from all relevant stakeholders, a
roles have changed to attract more national resource inventory to secure
audiences” (Perera, 2013) besides the the sustainability and effectiveness in
local society. the long run. We have a diverse set
of puzzles on the table. Now, the time
Moving Forward has come to make something im-
While we celebrate the inauguration pactful for the future. q

Biography - Thaïs G. Franken (24) is a recently graduated Aruban student at the University of Maastricht
(UM). She obtained her graduate double master of science degree in Public Policy and Human Develop-
ment in collaboration with the United Nations University Maastricht Economic and Social Research Institute
on Innovation and Technology (UNU-MERIT). Back home, on the beautiful island of Aruba, she completed
her Bachelor of Arts in Organization, Governance & Management (OGM) at the University of Aruba (UA),
where she successfully defended her thesis titled “Placing Culture and Creativity at the Heart of the Aru-
ban Sustainable Development”. It was precisely this research project that inspired the emergence of the
“Creative Islander” column in 2018. Thaïs is very passionate about topics such as sustainability, innovation,
culture, creativity, social entrepreneurship and their role in public management. Next to her academic in-
terests, she enjoys reading, writing, dancing and cooking.