Aga Khan Museum offers Syrian newcomers free admission
to the acclaimed exhibition Syria: A Living History
"The exhibition reminds us of what we often forget amid the narrative of conflict, that a war zone is also a home to people with memories, history and culture." — NOW Magazine
TORONTO, Nov. 22, 2016 /CNW/ - From November 22, 2016 to February 26, 2017, the Aga Khan Museum will offer free admission to newly-arrived Syrians and their host families to experience Syria: A Living History.
"We want to welcome all Syrian newcomers to this country, and to ensure that they and their host families have the opportunity to join in our celebration of the diversity and history of Syria," says Henry Kim, Director and CEO of the Aga Khan Museum. "Making art accessible to all has always been a key part of our mandate and this outreach program is no exception. We want Syrians to realize the value we place in their arrival in this country, and to understand that they are a vital part of the cultural mosaic of Canada."
Syria: A Living History is an exhibition which brings together artifacts and artworks that tell a different story of Syria — one of cultural diversity, historical continuity, resourcefulness, and resilience. Through a partnership with seven leading museums and private collections, the exhibition highlights the contributions that the many cultures within Syria — Hittite, Sumerian, Greek, Roman, Byzantine, Persian, Ottoman, and Arab — have made to world heritage.
| "This is a poignant, cathartic show. The visitor can't help feeling awe and veneration for the immortal works of art mixed with a bittersweet sense of what humans are capable of—at their best and worst." — The Wall Street Journal |
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| "Hope, of course, is wherever you can find it, but the show excavates a truth fast disappearing under the rubble piles of the country's daily disasters." — Toronto Star |
Syria: A Living History and related programming, including the Special Access for Syrian Newcomers program, runs through February 26, 2017.
The Special Access program has been generously supported by grants from the Bay Tree Foundation and the Carnegie Corporation of New York, and a donation by Mohammad and Najla Al Zaibak. It is marketed by the Museum's Community Partners for Syria: A Living History.
To participate in the Special Access program, Syrian newcomers must visit the Museum at
77 Wynford Drive, Toronto. To plan a visit for groups of 10 or more, please call 416.646.4677.
The Aga Khan Museum in Toronto, Canada, has been established and developed by the Aga Khan Trust for Culture (AKTC), which is an agency of the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN). The Museum's mission is to foster a greater understanding and appreciation of the contribution that Muslim civilizations have made to world heritage while often reflecting, through both its permanent and temporary exhibitions, how cultures connect with one another. 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.
SOURCE Aga Khan Museum
For press inquiries please contact: Jackie Koffman, Holmes PR, [email protected], 416.628.5608; Arlene Madell, Aga Khan Museum, [email protected], 416.858.8735
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