Regional Museums and their Role in promoting the Cultural Identity of the Visually impaired in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Regional museums are among the most important types of museums that can contribute to showcasing the rich and diverse cultural identity of each region of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and promoting it among visitors from both local and international communities, regardless of their demographic differences. One of the most significant groups in society is individuals with visual impairments. According to the 2022 General Census of Population and Housing, the percentage of people with disabilities and difficulties in Saudi Arabia reached 5.9%, amounting to 1,349,585 individuals out of a total population of 32,175,224. This group has received relatively little attention, especially in the fields of culture and arts, due to their loss or severe impairment of sight and their inability to experience visual artworks or historical artifacts in museums. This is particularly true for regional museums, which are the focus of this study. Regional museums are a developing sector in Saudi Arabia and are continually striving to grow and integrate with other sectors to achieve the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030, particularly regarding the rights and responsibilities of people with disabilities, as well as fostering national identity, belonging, loyalty, and building the Saudi personality in line with our cultural identity.
Individuals with visual impairments (both blind and low vision) are among the groups that require specific accommodations tailored to their tactile and auditory communication methods. The study concluded with several findings, the most important of which is that cultural identity for people with visual impairments can be promoted through the establishment of specialized sections in regional museums in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.