VANCOUVER – While culture is often thought of as a “luxury”, particularly in the developing world, an Exhibition featuring the work of the Historic Cities Programme offers a perspective that looks at culture as an asset that can transform communities.
The Historic Cities Programme Exhibition, which concluded its Vancouver showing on Wednesday, is an international initiative of the Aga Khan Trust for Culture commemorating the Golden Jubilee of His Highness the Aga Khan. It features five of the Trust’s projects in Egypt, Syria, Mali, India, and Afghanistan, and provides a unique lens on the role of culture in development. During the Jubilee year, the Exhibition will tour cities in various countries around the world.
The Aga Khan Trust for Culture and the Aga Khan Shia Imami Ismaili Council for Canada partnered with UBC, SFU and Centre A to present the Historic Cities Programme Seminar Series. The final installment of this series was held in conjunction with SFU’s Centre for the Comparative Study of Muslim Societies and Cultures this Wednesday.
The Aga Khan Trust for Culture is part of the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN), a group of development agencies with mandates ranging from health and education to architecture, culture, microfinance, disaster reduction, rural development, promotion of private-sector enterprise and the revitalization of historic cities. The work of AKDN is inspired by the ethics of Islam and seeks to uphold the dignity of humankind. His Highness the Aga Khan is Founder and Chairman of the Network. For more information on the AKDN, visit http://www.akdn.org
Ismailimail 