The Moon has been revered by civilisations all over the world across time. It provides gentle light, sets calendars and regulates the tidal force. Ulrike al-Khamis explores our fascination with this mystical celestial body and looks at the role it has played in faith, science and the arts across the Muslim world and beyond.

 

Dr. Ulrike Al-Khamis is Director of Collections and Public Programs at the Aga Khan Museum, Canada where she leads a team of subject-matter specialists and program managers to develop and deliver a strategically cohesive and sustainable set of audience-focused programs and initiatives devised to further the Museum’s mandate and role locally, nationally, and internationally.

She has more than 20 years of experience as a curator and strategic advisor for museum and cultural projects. She recently served as Co-Director at the Sharjah Museum of Islamic Civilisation as well as Senior Strategic Advisor to the Sharjah Museums Department in the United Arab Emirates (2007–2017). She began her career in Scotland, where she worked as Principal Curator for South Asia and the Middle East at the National Museums of Scotland (1999–2007) and Curator for Muslim Art and Culture at Glasgow Museums (1994–1999).

She holds a PhD in Islamic Art from the University of Edinburgh.

This podcast is part of  Converging Paths and Arts In Isolation, a partnership with Asia House, kindly supported by the Altajir Trust, and the Aga Khan Trust for Culture’s Education Programme.