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| Established | 2010 |
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| Location | 15A Anderson Road,Thornbury, Victoria, Australia |
| Coordinates | 37°45′16″S144°58′51″E / 37.75451°S 144.98079°E /-37.75451; 144.98079 |
| Type | museum |
| Website | islamicmuseum |
TheIslamic Museum of Australia (IMA) is acommunity museum inThornbury,Melbourne, Australia. It began as anot-for-profit foundation[1] 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.[2][3]
Designed by desypher, aMelbourne-based architectural firm,[4] the $10 million museum was opened on 28 February 2014 by the Australian treasurerJoe Hockey.[5] It shared a $4 million grant from theGovernment of Victoria's multicultural facilities program.[6] The museum was established by Moustafa Fahour, who is director of the museum[7] and Maysaa Fahour, with his brotherAhmed Fahour (CEO ofAustralia Post) and family contributing $4 million, early in 2014, to the IMA.[8]
The unique architectural style features a rustedCorten Steel facade representing the Australianoutback, wrapped a white cube covered in geometric tilework withArabic calligraphy.[citation needed]
The site backs ontoMerri Creek, near the border of Thornbury andBrunswick East, two of Melbourne's well-establishedmulticultural suburbs.[6]
The IMA is the first centre of its kind in Australia to showcase a diverse range ofIslamic 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 asMush bySydney basedBlake Prize-winning artist Khaled Sabsabi, andBorderlands: Islamic design covered surfboards by Sydney-based artist Phillip George.[9]
The permanent art gallery contains many unique works, including a 2011Archibald Prize shortlisted portrait ofWaleed 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 ofAfghan 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.[10]
The Museum's Modern Middle Eastern Cafe is run byMasterchef Australia 2013 Top 3 finalist Samira El-Khafir, who is Fahour's sister.[8]
The Islamic Museum of Australia's permanent exhibition was Highly Commended in the 2014Museums Australia MAGNA awards, endorsed as: "An important new museum which sensitively interconnects Australia's Muslim heritage with strong interpretive themes".[11]
Yassir Morsi, from the International Centre for Muslim and Non-Muslim Understanding at theUniversity 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 largeoil painting ofWaleed Aly.[12]
Etihad Airways and Dubai-basedHabtoor Leighton Group[13] are principal partners, while the museum branding was completed byDesign 55 - aDubai based studio.Gallery One from theJumeirah Beach Residence Dubai, supplies the museum's gift store. The museum has a majorUAE influence.[14]
The federal government contributed $1.5 million towards the IMA in the 2012-13 budget.[15] TheAustralian Labor Party promised to contribute a further $3 million during its unsuccessful re-election campaign in 2013.[16]
In February 2015 theSaudi Government contributed $1 million towards the IMA.[17] In March of that year thefederal government allocated $500,000 and the state government pledged $450,000[18] for an arts and culture education program which will be developed by the IMA.[19]
TheAustralian 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.[20] Following the establishment of the AMA Art Prize in 2019, the exhibition includes only shortlisted entries for the prize.[21] In 2021 the AMA exhibition is available for viewing online.[22][23][21]
TheAustralian Muslim Artists Art Prize was established in 2019, with the prize initially (until 2020[24]) worthA$15,000, as an annual acquisitive art prize hosted by IMA in collaboration with sponsorLa Trobe University.[25] As of 2021[update] the award is worthA$10,000.[23] The prize is open "to any Australian artist whose work is influenced byIslamic art orMuslim identity".[22] The winning work is added to the university's collection managed byLa Trobe Art Institute.[26]
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".[27]
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