An Australian university will be supporting the Islamic Museum of Australia’s annual Muslim artists exhibition as a major sponsor, offering a $15,000 Art Prize, The Islamic Museum of Australia website reported.
“We’re excited to formalize our existing relationship with La Trobe University, we see La Trobe as being a real change-maker, who through their leadership team, staff and students are committed to contributing to social harmony and cultural awareness,” Islamic Museum of Australia Chairperson and La Trobe alumnus, Moustafa Fahour OAM said.
“Their support of our flagship art exhibition, highlighting the work of Australian Muslim Artists is a testament to their commitment and will certainly elevate the exhibition to the next level,” he said.
Last June, Islamic Museum of Australia opened artist registrations to participate in the Australian Muslim Artists (AMA) 2019 exhibition, which will open on 12 September when the winner of the La Trobe University Muslim Artists Acquisitive Art Prize will also be announced.
The sponsorship is part of a new, overarching Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the two parties that sees La Trobe University committing as the Museum’s education partner for specific initiatives including the AMA exhibition.
La Trobe University Vice-Chancellor Professor John Dewar said the partnership reinforces the University’s commitment to connecting with all communities and transforming lives through education.
The Islamic Museum of Australia (IMA) is located in suburban Thornbury, Melbourne.
Planned since 2010, the dream of launching Australia’s first-ever Islamic Museum came true in early 2014 in a bid to highlight Muslim contributions in Australia and defy misconceptions about Islam.
Constructed in Melbourne with a budget of $10 million, the museum presents the tenets of Islam through various forms of arts.
Moreover, it includes galleries that display Islamic contributions to engineering, architecture, and arts.
Muslims, who have been in Australia for more than 200 years, make up 1.7 percent of its 20-million population.
Islam is the country’s second largest religion after Christianity.