PR93223

DUBAI, UAE, Nov. 22, 2021 /PRNewswire=KYODO JBN/--

Alwaleed Philanthropies, chaired by HRH Prince Alwaleed bin Talal Al Saud,

announced it has donated £1 million to support the Multaka-Oxford refugee

project at Oxford University, upskilling refugees settling in Oxford and

enhancing cross-cultural understanding. The award-winning Multaka-Oxford

project brings the rich and diverse knowledge of people settling in Oxford,

many through forced migration, to two Oxford University museums, including

History of Science Museum and Pitt Rivers Museum.

Multaka – which means meeting point in Arabic – uses the two University museums

and the collections as a meeting point to bring communities together,

strengthening cultural understanding through the mutual sharing of art,

stories, culture and science. Multaka-Oxford aims to support over 200

volunteers to develop new skills and volunteer as tour guides, all while

deepening the understanding of Islamic art and culture across the wider

community. The program works with local community organisations that support

people settling in Oxford as refugees and asylum seekers and will be delivered

by the History of Science Museum and Pitt Rivers Museum. The Multaka-Oxford

programme will include a host of initiatives, including community engagement

events, museum activations and conferences as well as introduce Alwaleed

Philanthropies' artisans programme with a view to build further cross-cultural

understanding.

The new five-year programme was announced at a signing ceremony attended by HRH

Princess Lamia bint Majed Saud Al Saud, Secretary General of Alwaleed

Philanthropies, Professor Louise Richardson, Vice Chancellor of the University

of Oxford, Professor Anne Trefethen, Pro-Vice Chancellor for Gardens, Libraries

and Museums (GLAM) at the University of Oxford, Dr Silke Ackermann, Director of

the History of Science Museum and Dr Laura van Broekhoven, Director of the Pitt

Rivers Museum.

The project began in 2017 with the museums working in partnership with local

community organisations.

Professor Louise Richardson, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Oxford, said:

"The support of Alwaleed Philanthropies is a strong and welcome endorsement of

the Multaka-Oxford project, the work of the museum teams and the contribution

of our many volunteers. The project offers mutual benefit both to the

University and to the volunteers. We are very grateful to Alwaleed

Philanthropies for their support."

Commenting on the launch of the program Her Royal Highness Princess Lamia bint

Majed Saud Al Saud, Secretary General of Alwaleed Philanthropies, said: "We are

pleased to support the continuation of the Multaka-Oxford programme for another

five years. This programme, which opens its arms to refugees and helps to

integrate them into the local community through the power of art and culture,

plays a powerful role in strengthening cross-cultural understanding in society.

Islamic art tells a story of our heritage, which can be often misunderstood,

the Multaka-Oxford programme bridges these gaps and brings museum collections

to life. This partnership is a true testament to the power of art and role of

creative industries in enhancing social development. This project mirrors the

successful Multaka programme at the Pergamon Museum in Berlin which we have

been proud to support. We look forward to a fruitful partnership."

The funding from Alwaleed Philanthropies will enable the Museums to recruit,

train and support a new team of 200 volunteers from across Oxfordshire to work

with a range of collections - such as scientific instruments from the Islamic

World at the History of Science Museum and textiles, objects, and material from

the Photographic and Sound Collections at the Pitt Rivers Museum. The

volunteers will bring diverse perspectives to these collections, sharing within

the museums and the wider community, with a particular focus on engaging young

people. Together with museum staff, the volunteers will also co-produce online

and in-person events at the museums, co-curate displays sharing artefacts from

the Islamic world, and lead tours and deliver object handling sessions, among

other activities.

www.glam.ox.ac.uk

Photo -

https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1694201/Alwaleed_Philanthropies_Oxford_Uni.jpg

SOURCE: Alwaleed Philanthropies