Education and membership campaign gets underway for the Aga Khan Museum

June 4, 2015 – By Sultan Jessa: MONTREAL – Quebec: A massive education and membership drive for the Aga Khan Museum in Toronto will be officially launched Friday in Quebec and the rest of Canada.

The $300­ million Aga Khan Museum in Toronto was opened last September.

This mammoth and high­ profile project took 14 years to plan and four years to build.

“We are hoping everyone will support the campaign by becoming members,” said Mohamed Bhanji, Quebec and Maritimes regional convener. “We are also hoping they will encourage neighbours, friends and colleagues to become members.”

The Aga Khan, spiritual leader of Ismaili Muslims worldwide, has expressed hope the museum will be a centre of education and of learning and act as a catalyst for mutual understanding and tolerance.

“The aim of the Aga Khan Museum will be to offer unique insights and new perspectives into Islamic civilizations and the cultural threads that weave through history binding us all together,” the Aga Khan said.

Malik Talib, president of the Aga Khan national council for Canada, wished the team the best of luck for the campaign. He emphasized it is critical to ensure the team make it a priority to enlist non-Ismailis as members.

The Aga Khan Museum is an initiative of the Aga Khan Trust for Culture, an agency of the Aga Khan Development Network.

The museum’s collection includes numerous pieces of Persian ceramics dating back to the 10 century and a fine selection of art and paintings from around the globe.