2019 Winners & Shortlists

Why is this work relevant for Entertainment?

Mishkat is a place to Enjoy and learn. Our edutainment programs are researched and developed by our team of trained science communicators and brought to life through the engaging ‘facilitators’ who have been trained by international experts to build thier capacity. Our programs are delivered in a variety of new, innovative and entertaining ways to increase public awareness and build capacity across society. We strongly believe that science is exciting, and hence we make sure it is delivered to our audiences in that exact way through interactive exhibits, shows and hands-on workshops bringing out the inner inventor in every visitor.

Background.

Mishkat is a national initiative of King Abdullah City for Atomic and Renewable Energy. it was established to enable a sustainable energy future for the Kingdom. To power this innovation, the Kingdom needs the youth of Saudi Arabia to be ambitious, skilled and knowledgeable contributors, actively shaping a bright future for our Kingdom. Edutainment is at the heart of everything that Mishkat develops and delivers. It is concerned with transformational change and nation-building at a time that the energy debate and STEM subjects are on a global platform. Mishkat adopts informal learning techniques to engage audiences in the energy debate and uses a largely constructivist approach to education to achieve its goals. It has adopted best practice from leaders in this field and yet has a definite and strong identity and style.

Describe the creative idea.

We believe that our ability to influence our society derives from our consciousness of responsibility, our optimism, and our enthusiasm to build a sustainable future for Saudi Arabia’s energy. Mishkat considers learning as personal creative experiences, stirring curiosity with a supportive and simulative environment for discovery and experiments will help us in the transition to be an effective institution through learning motivation to its audience and its partners and educated authority reflected internal learning. We strive to fulfill our tasks with excellence and neatness driven by a determination to acquire expertise and employ knowledge in achieving our vision on the highest quality standards. We aspire to reach new heights every day, we believe that each of us has the capacity and the capability that allows us to achieve our dreams and employ all opportunities to inspire youngsters to aim and contribute to achieving a more sustainable future for the kingdom.

Describe the strategy

Mishkat has a guiding principle - To reach increasingly larger and more diverse audiences, with more impact. Mishkat is a hub for public-science engagement. Museums and science centers are striving to be more relevant and to matter more to an increasingly broad public. we will align with this principle. There will be a shift from the public’s understanding of science to public’s engagement with science. The adoption of a more dialogue rich approach requires a strategy that is both visitors focused and participatory in its design and engagement. we will follow this direction as best practice in science centers, museums and galleries are being discussed in terms of relevance and reaching further. This will be apparent at our science center and its award-winning program, through our outreach and external events, and online. This shift in our focus will take creativity, hard work, focused planning and strong leadership.

Describe the execution

Mishkat Interactive Centre for atomic and renewable energy is a science discovery center packed with interactive exhibits, incredible technology, and inspirational events, bringing the world of energy science to life. It is a groundbreaking hands-on science center in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia created by National initiative from King Abdullah City for Atomic and Renewable Energy. As Saudi society continues to undergo rapid transformation, which now includes recent moves to build entertainment sector, we would like to highlight Mishka's unique role in pioneering this approach within the Kingdom. Mishkat is the first interactive science center in Riyadh, created to inspire the next generation of Saudi Arabian energy innovators, and it is a genuine innovator in Saudi society. It combines hands-on exhibits, cutting-edge technology, and electrifying events to create an enjoyable edutainment experience for visitors of all ages.

Describe the outcome

Growth and impact have been rapid - in 2010, Mishkat was just an idea, by September 2012, it had become one of the country’s only fully-operational interactive exhibitions. Since its launch, it has engaged with an audience of over 1,000,000 visitors. A central element of Mishkat's achievement was the development and launch of one of the first immersive free entertainment spaces which required in-depth audience engagement from the very outset. Children, teenagers, and teachers were involved in the development process to direct the tone, content, and experience design. Over the six years, we welcome schools, the center runs indoor festivals for the public throughout the year. Also, we run an outreach program that targets underserved and disadvantaged groups. Inclusivity is a core value for us. We engage with disenfranchised groups in and around Riyadh, running events for children with special educational needs, with terminal illnesses and for orphans.