Islamic Museum of Australia#AMA exhibition and art prize

{{Infobox museum

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| location = 15A Anderson Road, Thornbury, Victoria, Australia

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File:Islamic Museum of Australia 5.jpg

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The Islamic Museum of Australia (IMA) is a community museum in Thornbury, Melbourne, Australia. It began as a not-for-profit foundation{{cite web|url=http://www.abr.business.gov.au/SearchByAbn.aspx?SearchText=88+561+206+382&StartSearch=True|title=The trustee for the foundation for the islamic museum of australia|date=19 May 2010|work=Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission|access-date=28 June 2014|archive-date=27 June 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170627064022/http://www.abr.business.gov.au/SearchByAbn.aspx?SearchText=88+561+206+382&StartSearch=True|url-status=dead}} founded in May 2010 with the purpose of establishing the first Islamic museum in Australia. It aims to showcase the artistic heritage and historical contributions of Muslims in Australia and abroad through the display of artworks and historical artefacts.{{cite news|last=Farouque|first=Farah|title=Planned museum hopes to shed light on Islam |url=http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/planned-museum-hopes-to-shed-light-on-islam-20110501-1e363.html|date=2 May 2011|publisher=The Age|access-date=2016-02-19}}{{cite journal| url=https://www.slv.vic.gov.au/sites/default/files/La-Trobe-Journal-89-Anisa-Buckley.pdf| journal= La Trobe Journal | issue= 89| date=2012| first=Anisa |last=Buckley| title=The First Islamic Museum of Australia: challenging negative assumptions of Muslims in Australia through art, heritage and discovery| access-date=28 September 2021}}

History

Designed by desypher, a Melbourne-based architectural firm,{{cite web|url=http://www.desypher.com.au |title=Home |publisher=Desypher |access-date=2016-02-19}} the $10 million museum was opened on 28 February 2014 by the Australian treasurer Joe Hockey.{{cite news|title=Joe Hockey launches Australia's first Islamic Museum in Thornbury|url=http://www.heraldsun.com.au/leader/north/joe-hockey-launches-australias-first-islamic-museum-in-thornbury/story-fnglenug-1226843919931|date=4 March 2014|publisher=Northcote Leader}} It shared a $4 million grant from the Government of Victoria's multicultural facilities program. The museum was established by Moustafa Fahour, who is director of the museum{{cite news|url=https://www.afr.com/p/national/fahour_family_spirit_for_islamic_PYZj4qCrXN9n3AOwrhLpUI |title=Fahour's family spirit for Islamic museum |author=Murphy, Jason |date=13 October 2012 |work=Australian Financial Review |access-date=28 June 2014 |url-status=bot: unknown |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121115014533/http://afr.com/p/national/fahour_family_spirit_for_islamic_PYZj4qCrXN9n3AOwrhLpUI |archive-date=15 November 2012 }} and Maysaa Fahour, with his brother Ahmed Fahour (CEO of Australia Post) and family contributing $4 million, early in 2014, to the IMA.{{cite news|url=http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/australia-post-donates-boss-ahmed-fahours-2m-bonus-to-islamic-museum-of-australia/story-fni0fiyv-1226958003540 |title=Australia Post donates boss Ahmed Fahour's $2m bonus to Islamic Museum of Australia |author=Whinnett, Ellen|date=18 June 2014|work=Herald Sun|access-date=28 June 2014}}

Architecture and siting

The unique architectural style features a rusted Corten Steel facade representing the Australian outback, wrapped a white cube covered in geometric tilework with Arabic calligraphy.{{cn|date=September 2021}}

The site backs onto Merri Creek, near the border of Thornbury and Brunswick East, two of Melbourne's well-established multicultural suburbs.{{cite news|url=http://www.melbournetimesweekly.com.au/story/1265374/state-cash-for-thornburys-islamic-museum/ |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130629235802/http://www.melbournetimesweekly.com.au/story/1265374/state-cash-for-thornburys-islamic-museum/ |date=29 January 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-date=29 June 2013 |access-date=28 June 2013 |title=State cash for Thornbury's Islamic Museum|work=Melbourne Times Weekly}}

Description

The IMA is the first centre of its kind in Australia to showcase a diverse range of Islamic arts including architecture, calligraphy, paintings, glass, ceramics and textiles. The museum also aims to promote new and established Islamic artists, both local and international. The Temoporary Gallery has hosted exhibitions such as Mush by Sydney based Blake Prize-winning artist Khaled Sabsabi, and Borderlands: Islamic design covered surfboards by Sydney-based artist Phillip George.{{cite web|title=Borderlands exhibition fosters cultural understanding|url=http://www.heraldsun.com.au/leader/north/borderlands-exhibition-fosters-cultural-understanding-at-islamic-museum-of-australia-in-thornbury/story-fnglenug-1226950487216?nk=23665c2efd69902323f13459bafaa64e|website=Heraldsun.com.au|date=12 June 2014}}

The permanent art gallery contains many unique works, including a 2011 Archibald Prize shortlisted portrait of Waleed Aly. The effort to establish this purpose-built Islamic Museum was geared towards sharing the artistic and historical achievements of Muslims internationally, and particularly in Australia. The Australian Muslim History gallery focuses on the history of Afghan cameleers, Malay pearlers, Albanian farmers and others. This was documented in the book and documentary, Boundless Plains, produced by the IMA based on a 2011 expedition unearthing unique Muslim stories from outback Australia.{{cite web|url=http://boundlessplains.com.au/ |title=Boundless Plains |publisher=Boundless Plains |access-date=2016-02-19}}

The Museum's Modern Middle Eastern Cafe is run by Masterchef Australia 2013 Top 3 finalist Samira El-Khafir, who is Fahour's sister.

Recognition and criticism

The Islamic Museum of Australia's permanent exhibition was Highly Commended in the 2014 Museums Australia MAGNA awards, endorsed as: "An important new museum which sensitively interconnects Australia's Muslim heritage with strong interpretive themes".{{cite web |url=http://www.museumsaustralia.org.au/site/magna2014_winners.php/ |title=Museums Australia |publisher=Museums Australia |access-date=2016-02-19 |archive-date=8 June 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140608000614/http://www.museumsaustralia.org.au/site/magna2014_winners.php |url-status=dead }}

Yassir Morsi, from the International Centre for Muslim and Non-Muslim Understanding at the University of South Australia, in his review lists a number of deficiencies, saying the museum displays "how European we are when we colonise our Islamic history". He says the museum's only saving grace is the large oil painting of Waleed Aly.{{cite news|url=http://australianmuslimtimes.com/2014/04/02/visit-islamic-museum-australia-470.html/|title=Visit to The Islamic Museum of Australia|author= Morsi, Yassir|date=2 April 2014|work=Australian Muslim Times|access-date=27 June 2014}}

Sponsorship and governance

Etihad Airways and Dubai-based Habtoor Leighton Group{{cite news|url=http://www.arabianbusiness.com/dubai-s-hlg-sponsor-oz-islamic-museum-483263.html|title=Dubai's HLG to sponsor Oz Islamic museum|date=18 December 2012|work=Arabian Business|access-date=30 June 2014}} are principal partners, while the museum branding was completed by Design 55 - a Dubai based studio. Gallery One from the Jumeirah Beach Residence Dubai, supplies the museum's gift store. The museum has a major UAE influence.{{cite news|title=First Islamic museum in Australia launches in Melbourne with major UAE influence|url=http://www.thenational.ae/world/australia/first-islamic-museum-in-australia-launches-in-melbourne-with-major-uae-influence|access-date=2 March 2014|newspaper=The National|date=28 February 2014}}

The federal government contributed $1.5 million towards the IMA in the 2012-13 budget.{{cite news|url=https://www.afr.com/p/national/arts_saleroom/islamic_museum_gets_in_budget_UbQjI2Oq16wpYUIjf0Wu3N |title=Islamic museum gets $1.5m in budget |author=Strickland, Katrina |date=10 May 2012 |work=Australian Financial Review |access-date=28 June 2014 |url-status=bot: unknown |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130930224815/http://www.afr.com/p/national/arts_saleroom/islamic_museum_gets_in_budget_UbQjI2Oq16wpYUIjf0Wu3N |archive-date=30 September 2013 }} The Australian Labor Party promised to contribute a further $3 million during its unsuccessful re-election campaign in 2013.{{cite web |last=Labor |first=Australian |url=http://www.alp.org.au/cm18_120813 |title=New Museum Celebrating the Wealth of Islamic Culture - Receives $3 Million From Federal Labor|website=Australian Labor Party|date=2013-08-12 |access-date=2016-02-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304055511/http://www.alp.org.au/cm18_120813 |archive-date=4 March 2016 |url-status=dead }}

In February 2015 the Saudi Government contributed $1 million towards the IMA.{{cite news|url=http://www.arabnews.com/news/712386 |title=KSA gives $1m in donation to Islamic Museum in Australia |newspaper=Arab News |date=2015-03-02 |access-date=2016-02-19}} In March of that year the federal government allocated $500,000 and the state government pledged $450,000{{cite web|url=http://www.heraldsun.com.au/leader/north/islamic-museum-of-australia-gets-government-cash-to-develop-online-education-program/story-fnglenug-1227249232666 |title=Islamic Museum of Australia Gets Government Cash to Develop Online Education Program |website=Heraldsun.com.au |access-date=2016-02-19}} for an arts and culture education program which will be developed by the IMA.{{cite web|title=$500,000 for Islamic Museum of Australia Arts and Culture Education Program|url=http://www.foreignminister.gov.au/releases/Pages/2015/jb_mr_150302.aspx|website=Media release|publisher=The Hon Julie Bishop MP, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Senator the Hon George Brandis QC, Attorney-General and Minister for the Arts|access-date=4 March 2015|date=2 March 2015|archive-date=2 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190402204159/https://foreignminister.gov.au/releases/Pages/2015/jb_mr_150302.aspx|url-status=dead}}

AMA exhibition and art prize

The Australian Muslim Artists launched in 2018, as an annual non-acquisitive exhibition featuring the work of emerging and established Australian Muslim artists. AMA is also a database of artists and art professionals intended as a networking tool for both local and international artists.{{cite web | title=Australian Muslim Artist | website=Islamic Museum of Australia | date=29 June 2018 | url=https://www.islamicmuseum.org.au/ima_exhibitions/australian-muslim-artist/ | access-date=29 September 2021}} Following the establishment of the AMA Art Prize in 2019, the exhibition includes only shortlisted entries for the prize.{{cite web | title=Australian Muslim Artists 2021 | website=Art Guide Australia | date=23 August 2021 | url=https://artguide.com.au/exhibition/australian-muslim-artists-2021/ | access-date=28 September 2021 | archive-date=29 September 2021 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210929084421/https://artguide.com.au/exhibition/australian-muslim-artists-2021/ | url-status=dead }} In 2021 the AMA exhibition is available for viewing online.

The Australian Muslim Artists Art Prize was established in 2019, with the prize initially (until 2020{{cite web | title=Australian Muslim artists exhibition | website=La Trobe University| date=30 March 2020 | url=https://www.latrobe.edu.au/news/articles/2020/release/australian-muslim-artists-exhibition | access-date=29 September 2021}}) worth {{AUD|15,000}}, as an annual acquisitive art prize hosted by IMA in collaboration with sponsor La Trobe University.{{cite web | title=AMA Art Prize 2019 winner announced | website=La Trobe University | date=12 September 2019 | url=https://www.latrobe.edu.au/news/articles/2019/release/ama-art-prize-2019-winner-announced | access-date=29 September 2021}} {{as of|2021}} the award is worth {{AUD|10,000}}.{{cite web | title=Fatima becomes first woman to win Muslim art prize | website=Canberra CityNews |first=Helen |last=Musa| date=20 August 2021 | url=https://citynews.com.au/2021/fatima-becomes-first-woman-to-win-muslim-art-prize/ | access-date=28 September 2021}} The prize is open "to any Australian artist whose work is influenced by Islamic art or Muslim identity".{{cite web | title=Gallery: The Muslim Australian artists sharing their deeply personal works with the world | website=SBS News |first=Fernanda |last=Fain-Binda| date=19 August 2021 | url=https://www.sbs.com.au/news/gallery-the-muslim-australian-artists-sharing-their-deeply-personal-works-with-the-world/4ba65cf6-b767-43e0-8d4a-3cc94386afb4 | access-date=28 September 2021}} The winning work is added to the university's collection managed by La Trobe Art Institute.{{cite web | title=Fatima Killeen announced as recipient of Australian Muslim Artists Art Prize 2021 | website=La Trobe University | date=19 August 2021 | url=https://www.latrobe.edu.au/news/articles/2021/release/fatima-killeen-announced-as-recipient-of-australian-muslim-artists-art-prize-2023 | access-date=29 September 2021}}

The partnership with La Trobe includes possibilities such as the university providing training in Islamic cultures for teachers, adding a new component to journalism courses and "work-integrated learning opportunities".{{cite web | title=Islamic Museum partnership strengthened | website=La Trobe University | date=19 June 2019 | url=https://www.latrobe.edu.au/news/articles/2019/release/islamic-museum-partnership-strengthened | access-date=29 September 2021}}

=Winners=

2019: Abdul Abdullah, for an embroidery entitled You can call me troublesome
Future Australian Muslim Artists category (for students in years 10–12): Hashim Mohamed
2020: Abdul-Rahman Abdullah, for Transplants (Euphorbia, Monstera, Sansevieria){{cite web | title=AMA Art Prize 2020 winner announced | website=La Trobe University | date=13 August 2020 | url=https://www.latrobe.edu.au/news/articles/2020/release/ama-art-prize-2020-winner-announced | access-date=29 September 2021}}
2021: Fatima Killeen, for her collagraph print on paper, The Crooked Narrative
2023: Rubaba Haider for a thread-like painting, Behind the veil of each night, there is a smiling dawn (Khalil Gibran) IV{{Cite web |date=2023-08-27 |title=Australian Muslim artists exhibition unveils a tapestry of culture and expression |url=https://www.amust.com.au/2023/08/australian-muslim-artists-exhibition-unveils-a-tapestry-of-culture-and-expression/ |access-date=2024-09-06 |website=AMUST |language=en-AU}}