2016 - News - Detail Page - Stiftung Preußischer Kulturbesitz

The Museum of Islamic Art of the National Museums in Berlin has received a generous grant from the Alwaleed Philanthropies based in Riyadh (Saudi Arabia). Over a period of ten years, the areas of exhibition development and cultural education are to be supported. In addition to the acquisition of artefacts that will help the collection relate to the present day, the funds will be used for the future permanent exhibition in the renovated Pergamon Museum. The development of new educational formats will also be promoted and cultural education in schools and the museum will be further expanded. The award-winning project "Multaka - Treffpunkt Museum" will also be supported.

"For the Prussian Cultural Heritage Foundation, cooperation with countries in the Islamic world has been an important factor in international cultural exchange for many years. The Museum of Islamic Art of the National Museums in Berlin is particularly committed to the worldwide protection of cultural heritage and is intensively concerned with the culture of the places of origin. We are delighted that, thanks to Alwaleed Philanthropies from Saudi Arabia, we can continue to work on creating cultural understanding through education," says Hermann Parzinger, President of the Prussian Cultural Heritage Foundation.

"Numerous projects and joint training programmes have been initiated in the areas of cultural heritage protection, archiving and restoration. The sponsorship of the Alwaleed Philanthropies is an expression of the long-standing partnership and cooperation, especially with Arab countries. We are delighted that the important work of the Museum of Islamic Art can thus be secured and further developed for the future," says Michael Eissenhauer, Director General of the National Museums in Berlin.

Lamia Bint Majed Saud AlSaud, Director of Alwaleed Philanthropies, emphasises: "Our aim in this project is to create cultural understanding through education, to provide further educational opportunities for children where important experiences and steps for the future development of their personality are encouraged. This project will not only complement AP's interfaith and intercultural work, but will also directly affect AP's other focus areas of empowering women and youth, community development and providing disaster relief. We also want to create synergies with our national initiatives."

"We are delighted to have found a partner in Alwaleed Philanthropies," says Stefan Weber, Director of the Museum of Islamic Art at the Staatliche Museen zu Berlin. "The foundation has set itself cultural and charitable goals beyond the politically difficult and changing situation in the Middle East - and will continue this work in the future. In a world of growing populist and extremist movements, such partnerships can contribute to supporting open images of oneself and others - whether in the Middle East or Europe."

Alwaleed Philanthropies

The charitable foundation of Saudi businessman al-Walid ibn Talal, based in Riyadh, supports and initiates projects around the world. It works with a range of charitable and governmental organisations to fight poverty, empower women and youth, develop communities, provide disaster relief and create cultural understanding through education. With its partners, it aims to build bridges for a tolerant and open world. It has sponsored academic centres at top universities in the United States, the Middle East and Europe and supported the Louvre in Paris. One of Alwaleed Philanthropies' priorities in the coming years is to support women's empowerment projects in Saudi Arabia and beyond. Turquoise Mountain is an example of an initiative in Saudi Arabia that focuses on the economic empowerment of women. The targeted promotion of female craftswomen strengthens their economic independence.