EGYPT's Ministry of Antiquities signed a memorandum of understanding with the Aga Khan Trust for Culture (AKTC) last week that is intended to broaden institutional engagements through joint ventures and exchange programmes in the field of museums and archaeology, reports Nevine El-Aref. The memorandum, signed in Cairo's Al-Azhar Park, aims at mapping out areas of common interest for potential collaboration. According to the memorandum, both sides are to launch a series of joint initiatives that will engage a constituency composed of museum and conservation specialists, scholars and the general public. Secretary-General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities (SCA) Mustafa Amin said that the memorandum aimed to develop joint ventures in the fields of conservation, museum programmes, archaeological research and exhibitions. Mohamed Abdel-Aziz, director-general of Historic Cairo, told Al-Ahram Weekly that among the most important articles of the memorandum was collaboration between the Ministry of Antiquities and the Aga Khan Museum in Toronto, Canada, in exchanging professional staff and works of art on a loan basis for temporary exhibitions as well as scientific research projects. He also said that the Aga Khan Programme for Islamic Architecture (AKPIA) had been launched at Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in the US. The programme, dedicated to the study of Islamic art and architecture, urbanism, environmental and landscape design and conservation, prepares students for careers in research, design and teaching, and aims to enhance the understanding of Islamic architecture worldwide. Luis Monreal, general director of the AKTC, said that there were other facets of cooperation between the foundation and the Antiquities Ministry, including the restoration of several buildings in Egypt. He said that a technical committee was to be established through the composition of a steering group to monitor the implementation of the memorandum of understanding and to identify further avenues of collaboration.
