Mark it in your diaries, the 18th of October when the British Museums New Islamic World gallery opens and is followed by the launch events on the 19th of October. Next Friday late from 06.00pm – 9.30pm you will have the opportunity to see a fantastic programme of delightful performances followed by a daytime event the next day on Saturday the 20th of October for families and children,  a film screening on Sunday, October 21st. A programme of activities will be present on the day celebrating the Islamic World.

The ancient and the modern – part of what I saw at @britishmuseum new gallery of the Islamic world. Opens next week pic.twitter.com/sTda60LMzf

— Mishal Husain (@MishalHusainBBC) October 11, 2018

The Albukhary Foundation Gallery of the Islamic world in Room 42-43, will be the first of its kind. The night will be filled with free performances, talks, and storytelling. There will also be craft activities available across the Museum so you may harness that inner creative. The gallery features Islamic history from West Africa to Southeast Asia and all else in between, it also seamlessly creates links between the ancient and medieval as well as the modern worlds interchangeably.

The Albukhary Foundation is a non-profit organisation based in Malaysia with an international presence for over 40 years. It has worked to promote goodwill through education and cultural heritage. Its objectives look into nourishing a world that is more “equitable and tolerant”.  The foundation is described as an esteemed cultural institution in the heart of Kuala Lumpur, and now the largest in the Asia Pacific dedicated to the arts, culture, and heritage of the Islamic world. The chain of success in Malaysia has spurred the Foundation to expand further.”

The Director of the Islamic Art Museum in Malaysia, Syed Mohamad Albukhary, said, “After years of preparation, it is enormously gratifying to see the Albukhary Foundation Gallery of the Islamic World open to the public. This gallery will certainly form an educational space and will contribute in strengthening the visitors’ experience and in their understanding of the Islamic civilisation”.

The foundation seeks to improve the lives of underprivileged and neglected communities, in education, religion, and social welfare. It has also spearheaded extensive humanitarian projects, widening educational opportunities, promoting scholarships among Muslims and non-Muslims alike. The Albukhary Foundation’s key role is to build bridges between faiths and cultures, to help empower different communities by allowing others to know more about their histories as well as ensuring there is “ceaseless support of the Islamic Arts Museum Malaysia.”

Who designed it?

It's just one week until The @britishmuseum's Albukhary Foundation Gallery of the Islamic World opens to the public. Working closely with the museum’s curators, our design seeks to reframe the extensive collection and to display it to its full potential.#BritishMuseum #gallery pic.twitter.com/MBr49rJnGv

— Stanton Williams (@_SW_News) October 11, 2018

Stirling Prize-winning architects Stanton Williams has designed the gallery in close collaboration with the British Museum,  the gallery has refurbished two historic 19th-century spaces on the first floor. This is adjacent to a recently renovated European galleries, these spaces have been closed to visitors for several years.

The curatorial team:

• Venetia Porter
• Ladan Akbarnia
• Fahmida Suleman
• Zeina Klink-Hoppe
• Amandine Mérat
• William Greenwood.

A prayer space will be available on the day in the Clore Education Centre, beneath the Great Court, as well as halal culinary delights available G & 36 from 6.00pm- 9.15 pm. From Baba Ghanoush, Malaysian beef curry, Pilar and Umm Ali at the Museum’s pop-up cafes, alongside the evening’s activities.

Publications available:

The Islamic World:  A History in Objects

by Ladan Akbarnia, Venetia Porter, Fahmida Suleman, William Greenwood, Zeina Klink- Hoppe and Amandine Mérat. Published by Thames and Hudson in October 2018. Hardback, £29.95. “This illustrated introduction to the history of the Islamic world takes its cue from the British Museum’s outstanding collections of art and artifacts from Islamic lands, offering a penetrating insight into the history and culture of this region through everyday objects and treasures from the ancient world to recent works of contemporary art.”

The Making of ‘The Albukhary Foundation Gallery of the Islamic World”

This book will be published in November 2018 by the British Museum.  £40.”This highly visual publication details the concepts, construction and design of the new Albukhary Foundation Gallery of the Islamic World at the British Museum. The book includes a series of essays which explore the nature of Islamic visual culture, the formation of the collection of Islamic material culture at the British Museum, and the challenges of designing a new gallery for the 21st-century within a historic building.”

 What’s on?

Please check the British Museum site with regard to changes to events and up to date information.

Friday

Performances:

• Whirling Dervishes (Mevlevi Turning)  6pm, 6.50pm & 7.30 pm

Witness a Mevlevi Dervish Turning, part of the ceremony known as Mukabele or Sema developed initially by followers of the Islamic scholar, theologian and Sufi mystic Rumi. Semazens of The Study Society will undertake the whirling in collaboration with Faiths In Tune.

• Khiyo 33 6.30-7pm & 7.30–8.00pm

Listen to Bangla music with a twist as the London based band Khiyo perform in Room 33. Fronted by vocalist Sohini Alam, who is featured in Akram Khan’s Olivier-Award-winning piece DESH.

• London Syrian Ensemble G 8.30 pm- 9.10pm

Join us in the Great Court as the London Syrian Ensemble – a collective of some of Syria’s finest musicians based in the UK – play a diverse repertoire of classical and traditional music from the region in this particular performance.

• Attab Haddad Quintet 41 6.15pm- 6.45pm

Join us on an instrumental musical journey through Andalusia and the Middle East, with a performance from Iraqi oud player and composer Attab Haddad and his quartet.

• Sheikh Muhammad Al-Hussaini 41 7pm-7.45pm

Sheikh Muhammad Al-Hussaini, the winner of the Gaelic Voices Festival 2014, performs sean nós (Irish ‘old-style’ singing). A Q&A will follow his performance with award-winning presenter Shemiza Rashid.

• Female Muslim Creatives 41 7.50pm–8,30pm

Join this all-female Muslim poet panel as they discuss women’s contribution to Islamic art and society across time. In collaboration with Poet in the City.

Workshops & demonstrations

• Discover Islamic geometry G 6-9.15pm

Learn the techniques of Islamic geometry at this drop-in participatory installation in the Great Court, presented in collaboration with The Prince’s School of Traditional Arts.

• Islamic calligraphy demonstration 36  6 – 9 pm

Explore the different styles and techniques of traditional Islamic calligraphy at this drop-in demonstration on the Great Court terrace. Presented in collaboration with The Prince’s School of Traditional Arts.

• Make your mark with OOMK G 6 – 9.15 pm

Discover the work of female Muslim creative publishing collective One of My Kind (OOMK) and design your own original artwork inspired by influential Muslim women throughout history. Get collaging to create a set of large stickers exploring the achievements, inventions, and ideas of Muslim women from different disciplines.

Storytelling

Enjoy storytelling performances for all-ages beneath the Nereid Monument from ancient Turkey close to sculptures from the Parthenon, which itself once functioned as a mosque.

• Stories from the Shahnameh 17 6 – 6.30pm  & 7.20 – 7.40 pm

Dive into the majestic mythology of Persia with performance storyteller Xanthe Gresham Knight as she presents episodes from The Shahnameh accompanied by Kurdish Iranian virtuoso Arash Moradi.

• Khayaal Theatre 17 6.40 – 7.10pm & 7.50- 8.20pm

Be transported to distant lands by Khayaal theatre, as they share a dazzling array of Muslim heritage stories from a mosaic of subcultures.

• Film Zone 6.00 –09.00 pm

Relax in the Great Court terrace and enjoy screenings of short films from across the Islamic world.

 Saturday

• Curator talks 11.00, 12.00, 02.00 & 03.00 pm Room 42–43

Meet the curators of the Albukhary Foundation Gallery of the Islamic world, as they discuss their favourite objects from the Museum’s unparalleled Islamic collection. Sessions last 20 minutes, and spaces may be limited.

• Objects up close Room 42–43, 11.00–04.00 om

Get closer to the Museum’s collection and enjoy an object handling session of traditional Islamic objects.

• Family explorer packs Families Desk Great Court, 10.30–04.30 pm

Pick up a backpack filled with family resources and craft activities, and explore the Museum. Backpacks will be available until 15.00. Family-friendly gallery Look out for our family-friendly labels in The Albukhary Gallery of the Islamic world, that will help you discover even more about the objects on display.

Performances

• Whirling Dervishes (Mevlevi Turning) Great Court 11.00–11.20, 02.00–02.20 pm, & 03.00 – 03.20 pm

Witness a Mevlevi Dervish Turning as part of the ceremony known as Mukabele or Sema – initially developed by followers of Rumi, the Islamic scholar, theologian, and Sufi mystic. The whirling will be undertaken by Semazens of The Study Society in collaboration with Faiths In Tune.

• Moussa Dembele Room 25, 11.00–11.30, 12.00–12.30 & 02.15–02.45 pm

Listen to the thrilling music of multi-instrumentalist and craftsman Moussa Dembele. Performing on balafon, kora and voice, Moussa will be joined by Bacary Mane – master drummer, dancer and singer from Senegal.

Storytelling

• Xanthe Gresham Knight Stevenson Lecture Theatre, 11.00–11.30, 12.00–12.30 & 02.15–02.45 pm

Dive into the majestic mythology of Persia with dazzling storyteller Xanthe Gresham as she performs episodes from The Shahnameh, accompanied by Kurdish Iranian artist Arash Moradi. Suitable for ages 5+.

• Khayaal Theatre BP Lecture Theatre, 11.30–12.00, 01.00–01.30 & 03.00–03.30 pm

Ignite your imagination with heritage tales of wonder, wisdom, and humour performed by Khayaal Theatre – exploring a vibrant and colourful mosaic of Muslim subcultures. Suitable for ages 5+.

Workshops

• Discover Islamic geometry Great Court, 11.00 am –04.00 pm

Learn the techniques of Islamic geometry at this drop-in participatory installation in the Great Court, presented in collaboration with The Prince’s School of Traditional Arts. Suitable for ages 6+.

• Muslim meets Manga Clore Centre for Education, Studio, 11:00 am –04.00 pm

Draw your own Manga inspired character with artist Asia Alfasi. Please note that space may be limited.

• Islamic crafts: make your mark Great Court, 11.00 am –04.00 pm

Discover the work of female Muslim creative publishing collective One of My Kind (OOMK), and design your collage sticker inspired by influential Muslim women throughout history. Suitable for ages 8+.

Film Zone

• Clore Centre for Education, 11.00 am–04.00 pm

Relax in the Museum’s film zone and enjoy screenings of short films from across the Islamic world. Presented in collaboration with Qisetna.

Food and drink

• Great Court and Great Court terrace, 11.00 am –04.00 pm

Enjoy Halal culinary delights from the Islamic world, such as Baba Ghanoush, Malaysian beef curry, Pilar and Umm Ali.

Sunday

The British Museum will also be hosting a film screening of “The Poetess” on Sunday 21 Oct in collaboration with the UN.

The 90-minute film directed by Stefanie Brockhaus and Andreas Wolff in 2017, features a Saudi poetess, named Hissa Hilal, “who made headlines around the world as the first woman to reach the finals of the Arab world’s biggest televised poetry competition, Million’s Poet. This film is the inspiring story of a woman risking her safety and seizing an opportunity, live on TV in front of 75 million viewers, to use her wit and lyricism to critique patriarchal society and religious extremism, and to urge a more peaceful Islam.”

Presented in collaboration with United Nations Cinema. The film starts from 3-5pm get your tickets here.