‘One City, One Museum’ initiative to safeguard local heritage
The “One City, One Museum” initiative will be implemented in cooperation between the Ministry of the Interior and the Ministry of Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts, a deputy minister of the interior said.
According to IRNA, Masoud Nosrati, deputy minister of the interior for urban and rural development, said in a directive to deputy governors general in charge of urban and rural development affairs across the country that cities with particular historical, social, cultural and natural significance will be identified jointly by the two ministries and supported in establishing specialized museums.
He said the initiative aims to advance the broader “One City, One Museum” strategy while safeguarding oral history and the tangible and intangible historical and cultural heritage of cities and villages across Iran.
The establishment of urban museums, he added, would not only provide a systematic record of the historical and cultural identity of different regions but could also help preserve local identities, promote sustainable tourism and create jobs in tourism and related services.
Nosrati, who also heads the Organization of Municipalities and Rural Administrations of Iran, said that under the initiative’s proposed framework, interested city councils and municipalities must first identify the existing potential and opportunities for establishing a specialized museum in their cities and declare their readiness to launch one.
Completion of the relevant application form, along with the submission of a report and feasibility study, will serve as the basis for the initial assessment of applications, he added.
Nosrati said that following an evaluation by a joint specialized committee of the Ministry of the Interior and the Ministry of Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts, priority cities will be identified. The necessary support will then be provided for establishing specialized museums, organizing related events, pursuing legal procedures and obtaining the required permits.
The deputy minister said that, where conditions allow, selected cities could also benefit from certain financial and legal support under the initiative.
Among the criteria that could influence the selection of priority cities, he cited the potential for public participation, the presence of investors and philanthropists, cooperation from provincial executive bodies in providing the required facilities and equipment, and the presence of influential and prominent figures associated with the city’s history and culture.
According to Nosrati, priority for establishing museums in metropolises and provincial capitals will be pursued through the respective municipalities, while in other cities the initiative will be led by the relevant governorates.
He said the initiative, with an emphasis on preserving and passing on Iran’s historical and cultural heritage, seeks to turn urban museums into platforms for documenting local identity, strengthening public participation and making greater use of cities’ cultural and tourism potential.