Ismaili.NET - Heritage F.I.E.L.D.

Sep 27, 2024,

SPEECH BY PRINCE AMYN MUHAMMAD AGA KHAN
LAPIS BALL HELD ON THE 10TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE OPENING OF THE AGA KHAN MUSEUM

Toronto, Canada

Good evening, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, friends.

As you may have guessed, it gives me a particular pleasure tonight to welcome you and to be with you for the 2024 Lapis Ball, as we celebrate the 10th year of the Museum's inauguration in Toronto on the 12th of September, 2014.

That happened to be my birthday.

But you need to know that the Museum is much younger than me.

On that day 10 years ago, I expressed my hope that the Museum might become a place of intercultural connection and dialogue between Muslim and non-Muslim civilizations. Its architectural manifestation in itself is symbolic, beacon of light and enlightenment, gifted to Canada in recognition and support of its exemplary aspiration to foster peaceful pluralism in communities.

The theme of tonight's Lapis Ball, Be the Light, references to my brother, his Highness's thundering vision of light and of enlightenment as essential ingredients of the Museum's design and architecture, and indeed of what it would hope to bring to its diverse audiences through its exhibitions, public programs, performances and educational initiatives.

Tonight's theme also shares its inspiration with that of our 10th anniversary exhibition, Light: Visionary Perspectives, which in turn is an artistic homage to an original vision.

The exhibition brings together Canadian and international contemporary artists in an enlightening exploration of what light, in its physical and spiritual dimension, might teach us about adapting new ways of seeing, and the potential that lies in seeing differently, with the heart and mind as well as our eyes, so as to understand and go beyond conventional perceptions and thereby to avoid the risk of stereotypes and misconceptions.

As we celebrate all that has been achieved, and as we envisage the future, the Museum's role in offering innovative, inclusive ways of actually seeing, instead of merely looking, it is more open than ever, and it is with a great anticipation and hope that I contemplate the Museum's ever-deepening impact in this respect, both in Canada and indeed around the world.

The fact that more than one million visitors have visited the Aga Khan Museum to date, and more than 600,000 learners of all ages have been engaged on-site and online, is truly remarkable, and bodes well as we look ahead.

Please allow me, on this very special occasion, to extend a particularly warm thank you to all of you for having supported the Museum over the years.
Some of you, from the very earliest days of its inception.

I can attest that each and every one of you makes a real difference to our efforts in bridging cultures through the arts of the Muslim world, and I look forward to continuing the journey into the future in heavenly ways and pleased with you all by our side.

Thank you again, and I wish you all a wonderful evening of light and lightly experiences, and your family, friends and family guests.

I look forward to our next meeting next year. With all I do, I hope to do more.