Acting Director of the Museums Department Pengiran Haji Rosli bin Pengiran Haji Halus attended the online video conference for the launch of the SEA-Collections Project Digital Exhibition Launch: Interpreting Shared Histories through Southeast Asian Maritime Collections, held in a hybrid format.
The meeting was officiated by Dr Natali Pearson of the Sydney Southeast Asia Centre (SSEAC), The University of Sydney, while the opening address was delivered by Carlo White of the ASEAN-Australia Centre (AAC).
The exhibition was made possible with the support of the ASEAN-Australia Centre, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Australia, with additional support from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The collaborative collection project brings together experts from institutions across Southeast Asia to celebrate and enhance the region’s shared maritime heritage. The initiative highlights the power of regional and international cooperation in preserving cultural heritage. By involving museums and cultural institutions throughout Southeast Asia, the project enriches the collective understanding of maritime history while strengthening the capacity to manage and interpret this common heritage.
For Brunei Darussalam, the project aligns with the mission of preserving and promoting its maritime heritage, contributing to the broader effort to showcase the cultural narrative that unites the Southeast Asian region.
The digital exhibition will further strengthen Brunei Darussalam’s maritime story, ensuring its place in the global dialogue on heritage preservation.
In addition to contributions from Australia, the project also includes museums from Thailand, Cambodia, the Philippines, Indonesia, and Brunei Darussalam. The initiative reflects a shared commitment to preserve and interpret maritime collections as key cultural treasures, connecting history and communities across the region. – James Kon
