BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN

ONLINE registrations are now open for the Museums Department’s first ‘Museums Race Brunei’ which is slated to take place over three consecutive Sundays in August.

The race, organised as part of the Museums Department’s 50th Anniversary this year, will see participants racing between the country’s museums and galleries as well as national heritage sites in the Brunei-Muara and Tutong districts to look for clues to solve riddles, complete scavenger hunts and overcome obstacles.

Museums Race Brunei will consist of teams of four participants. Each Team will have to pay a registration fee of $120 to join.

In an interview, public relations officer at the Museums Department Mariani Hj Abu Bakar said that the main reason the race had been organised was to promote the country’s museums and galleries to the general public, as not many people know about them.

“Besides the museums, we also have archaeological sites that can be visited by the public,” Mariani shared.

“We want to get people to actually come in and visit our galleries, and not just know where the buildings are. Those who join the race will know a bit more about our culture just by becoming a participant,” she added.

Although the race is open to participants of all ages, Mariani said the department was hoping for more youth participants.

“The only exposure kids have (to our museums and galleries) is during their lower primary school days, when teachers actually really help out in getting information and bringing school children to visit our museums.

“But once they are school-leavers, that’s when it sort of becomes ‘lost in translation’,” she explained.

Registrations for the Museums Race Brunei can be made at www.museumsracebrunei.com until July 2. The race will take place on August 16, 23 and 30.

The Brunei Times