Islamic Art Festival to Be Largest Ever in Britain
Organizers claim it will be the largest display of Islamic art ever seen in
public in the county or anywhere in outside the great museums.
Treasures on display include carpets, paintings, furniture, metalwork,
jewellery and calligraphy from across Asia – as well as one of the largest
collections of Qur’ans in the country.
The Art of Islam Festival, which started on 26 March and will continue until 24
September, is being organized by Buckinghamshire County Museum Trust.
It is centered at the Bucks County Museum in Aylesbury (pictured), but more
than 100 associated events are planned across the county in collaboration with
mosques, libraries and arts venues.
Events are proposed in Aylesbury, Chesham, High Wycombe and Milton Keynes, and
include opportunities for visitors to experience Islamic literature, poetry,
ceramics, painting, music, calligraphy and textiles.
The exhibition has been boosted by a grant of £49,950 from the Arts Council
which will help fund events around the county.
The exhibits is borrowed from the British Museum, Birmingham City Museum and
Art Gallery, the Horniman Museum in London and from a major private collection
owned by renowned UK collector and philanthropist Razwan Baig.
Richard de Peyer, director of the Buckinghamshire County Museum Trust, said:
"We are hugely excited by this exhibition.
"It’s one of the biggest and most ambitious we have organized and the exhibits
are simply stunning.
"I think the public are in for a big treat.”
Details of the other festival events have not yet been fully announced but
include schools activities in drama and graphic art, arts award workshops for
geometric design, talks, garden events and entertainments with an Islamic
theme.
Source: Islam Today
