The Aga Khan Museum announces a monumental year of programs and digital experiences carefully curated to reference the Museum’s architecture, its founding vision of light, and a history that spans a decade in Toronto Canada.
The Aga Khan Museum announces a monumental year of programs and digital experiences celebrating a decade of impact and achievement. With an exceptional lineup of exhibitions and events Aga Khan Museum CEO Dr Ulrike Al-Khamis invites visitors to explore an inspiring journey of fostering connections through intercultural dialogue.
“Over the past ten years, the Aga Khan Museum has steadily grown its impact as a beacon of cultural exchange, fostering understanding and appreciation of the rich, diverse tapestry of Muslim cultures and their interconnectedness with the world. As we look forward to further driving the Museum’s relevance and impact into the future, our commitment to serving our audiences is stronger than ever. Our mandate is to positively impact lives and contribute to resilient, peaceful, pluralistic societies,” says Al-Khamis.
As part of the year-long celebration, visitors will enjoy a selection of curated exhibitionsthat reference the Museum’s spectacular architecture, its founding vision of light, and its history over the past 10 years:
Aga Khan Museum: Celebrating the Past, Reimagining the Future
On display: September 7, 2024–June, 2025
Located in the Rasheed Dhuka and Nooruddin Khawja Family Gallery, this special exhibition is a dynamic showcase of photographs and video material, charting the Museum’s evolution and programs over the past decade. It invites visitors to reflect on the Museum’s transformative journey and envisions its future as a catalyst for intercultural understanding through the arts.
Light: Visionary Perspectives
On display until March 17, 2025
An homage to His Highness the Aga Khan’s vision of light as inspiration for the Museum’s architecture and mandate, the immersive exhibition features internationally acclaimed contemporary artists from around the world, each engaging with the theme of light. Ten breathtaking installations explore the diverse qualities and symbolism of light — from its physical presence to its metaphorical and spiritual manifestations.
Moon
On display: September 24, 2024–March 17, 2025
Luke Jerram’s Moon — the centrepiece in the Museum’s most successful exhibition to date, The Moon: A Voyage Through Time (2019) – returns by popular demand. This internally illuminated replica moon, measuring five metres in diameter, seeks to fill us with calm, hope and wonder in complex times, and to remind us of the many ways we are all connected.
EnlighTEN x Global Toronto Music Festival
September 28–29, 2024
Marking the Museum’s biggest celebration this year, visitors will enjoy a site-wide festival presented in partnership with Small World Music. A collaborative element of the Global Toronto Music Festival, the festival will feature a diverse lineup of free live performances, creative workshops and activities for the whole family, and a special cake-cutting ceremony.
Duende Flamenco Festival: Vida Al Andalus
November 14–17, 2024
Also in its 10th year, the Museum’s annual Duende Flamenco Festival returns with a celebration of contemporary flamenco’s rich history, influenced by over 800 years of Muslim rule in Iberia. Blending elements from Rajasthan, the Balkans, Ottoman Türkiye, and North Africa, the festival will spotlight the Roma communities where flamenco originated and continues to thrive.
“Over the past decade, the Museum has become a dynamic cornerstone in the community, hosting an array of events and festivals that empower meaningful intercultural and intergenerational encounters and connections. These vibrant celebrations are a testament to the Museum’s commitment to fostering pluralism through the arts, while showcasing the rich and inclusive diversity of Canada,” says Al Khamis.
Notes from the Editor: To learn more about the Museum’s anniversary celebrations, visit agakhanmuseum.org. The Aga Khan Museum has been established and developed by the Aga Khan Trust for Culture, which is an agency of the Aga Khan Development Network. Through permanent and temporary exhibitions, educational activities and performing arts, the Museum’s mission is to spark wonder, curiosity, and understanding of Muslim cultures and their connection with other cultures through the arts. Designed by architect Fumihiko Maki, the Museum shares a 6.8-hectare site with Toronto’s Ismaili Centre, which was designed by architect Charles Correa. The surrounding landscaped park was designed by landscape architect Vladimir Djurovic.
