Innovative Multaka-Oxford refugee project at Oxford University Museums supported by £1m funding from Alwaleed Philanthropies
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
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