Performers at the Aga Khan Museum.

Muhammad Yusuf, Features Writer

The United Arab Emirates Ministry of Culture and the Toronto-headquartered Aga Khan Museum have announced a formal collaboration emanating from the Al Burda Grant Programme, to advance their shared and individual missions, priorities and strategic objectives.

Effective from December 19, 2023, to December 18, 2026, the Memorandum of Understanding aims to enrich educational and artistic initiatives for young professionals, intellectuals, art practitioners and students through collaboration, and provide opportunities for learning and artistic creativity through training and mentorship.

The venture is fuelled by a shared mandate of pluralism, inclusivity and diversity and the collaboration aims to present a diverse range of offerings at the museums and cultural institutions in the United Arab Emirates and the Museum in Toronto, Canada, for young curators, artists, art practitioners, and museologists.

Opportunities will include annual residencies for young, emerging art and performing art practitioners; educational opportunities, such as learning initiatives and educational workshops for Emirati high school post-secondary students and young professionals focused on intercultural dialogue; local museology; museum education and Islamic art; professional internships and fellowships for young Emirati curators and museum professionals in the areas of curation, conservation, museum education, collection management, and academic research.

 Representatives signing the Memorandum of Understanding.

Sheikh Salem bin Khalid Al Qassimi, UAE Minister of Culture said: “Guided by the ambitious vision of our wise leadership, the Ministry of Culture in the United Arab Emirates is committed to creating opportunities for professionals and intellectuals across the country – to sharpen their skills, expand their knowledge and embrace and develop their creative ideas.

The Ministry has launched a myriad initiatives and programmes to that very end, while also working to grow and strengthen our network of partnerships to drive progress towards these strategic objectives.

We are proud to be signing this agreement with the prestigious Aga Khan Museum and it brings us a significant step forward in that direction, while also presenting us with a prominent platform to share our own expertise and insight into various cultural sectors with world-renowned and like-minded institutions.”

“This groundbreaking Memorandum of Understanding is built on a joint commitment to showcase the creativity and contributions of Muslim cultures and foster intercultural learning, dialogue and capacity building through the arts,” said Dr. Ulrike Al-Khamis, Director and CEO of the Aga Khan Museum. “We are deeply honoured by the trust invested in our Museum with this partnership, and we very much look forward to working with our Emirati colleagues.”

The initiation of the collaboration was celebrated at a ceremonial signing of the Memorandum of Understanding by Mubarak Al Nakhi, Undersecretary of the UAE Ministry of Culture and Dr. Al-Khamis, on December 19, 2023, at the Louvre, Abu Dhabi, in the presence of Sheikh Salem bin Khalid Al Qassimi and Professor Emeritus Dr. Thomas L. Lentz, Vice Chairman of Aga Khan Museum.

The Al Burda Award 2023 ceremony was attended by Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the United Arab Emirates, Noura bint Mohammed Al Kaabi, Minister of State at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and dignitaries from the region and the UAE. Al Burda’s brand identity was developed by Sharjah-based Fikra Design Studio in 2018. The logo which reads ‘Al Burda’, is inspired by the formal structure of written Arabic poetry.

The name Al Burda is derived from Qasidat Al Burda, or Ode of the Mantle, an epic poem in praise of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), authored by the 12th century Sufi mystic Imam Al Busiri. It has been a mainstay of the Muslim choral tradition from East to West and is considered the quintessence of devotional praise and expression of passionate love for the Prophet (PBUH), by both the expert and the layman. It adorns architecture throughout the Muslim lands and has also found a place on the walls of the Prophet’s (PBUH) Mosque in Madinah.

Among the strategic objectives of the Ministry of Culture are the preservation and protection of cultural heritage, Arabic language and national identity; enhancing the impact and economic value of the cultural and creative industries sector in the UAE; and promoting the stature of the UAE and its presence in education, culture and science on regional and international forums and organisations.

The Aga Khan Museum has been established and developed by the Aga Khan Trust for Culture (AKTC), which is an agency of the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN). Through permanent and temporary exhibitions, educational activities and performing arts, the Museum’s mission is to spark wonder, curiosity and understanding of Muslim cultures and their connection with other cultures through the arts.

In addition to the Permanent Collection, the Museum features several temporary exhibitions each year that respond to current scholarship, emerging themes and new artistic developments. The Museum Collection and exhibitions are complemented by educational programmes and performing arts events.

The displays convey both Din and Dunya, which can be translated as ‘Spirit’ and ‘Life’ — the religious and secular aspects of life which are inextricably linked in Muslim cultures. Designed by architect Fumihiko Maki, the Museum shares a 6.8-hectare site with Toronto’s Ismaili Centre, which was designed by architect Charles Correa. The surrounding landscaped park was designed by landscape architect Vladimir Djurovic.