The Iran Heritage Foundation is delighted to announce the appointment of Dr Ladan Akbarnia as their new Executive Director. A highly regarded arts administrator and dynamic educator with extensive curatorial experience, Dr Akbarnia joins Iran Heritage Foundation from the Brooklyn Museum where she was Hagop Kevorkian Associate Curator of Islamic Art.

Vahid Alaghband, Chairman of Iran Heritage Foundation says, "The Trustees are delighted with the appointment of Dr Akbarnia as Executive Director. Iran Heritage Foundation is in the process of rolling out a series of strategic partnerships with major museums and institutions of learning in 2010 and Dr Akbarnia brings with her a wealth of experience to support this important and foundation-building programme."

About Dr Ladan Akbarnia

A specialist on the art of Islamic Iran and Central Asia after the seventh century, Dr Akbarnia brings to Iran Heritage Foundation broad international experience in museum work. She has researched collections in Iran, Turkey, and Europe, as well as holding positions at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, and the Brooklyn Museum. In addition she has organised exhibitions at Harvard Art Museum and the Brooklyn Museum in New York. She has also served as a consulting curator to the Aga Khan Museum Collection in Geneva and to the virtual museum site, Arts of the Islamic World. Dr. Akbarnia taught Islamic art history at Smith College and Wheaton College, both in Massachusetts.

Dr Akbarnia says, 'I am very excited to be joining the Iran Heritage Foundation. It has a richly deserved reputation as the leading centre for Iranian history and culture in the UK, and has an increasingly important international profile through its international partnerships with major cultural institutions. Its ambitious program of supporting numerous exhibitions, publications, and educational activities means that there is no better forum for the exchange of ideas, learning and resources about Iran. It is a privilege for me to take this opportunity to build on the Foundation's impressive past record with the help of a dedicated team of supportive trustees and staff. I am most grateful for the model set by my esteemed colleague and predecessor, Mr. Farad Azima.'

About the Iran Heritage Foundation

The Iran Heritage Foundation is a UK registered charity, and the leading supporter of Iranian studies in the UK. It promotes academic research through fellowships, grants scholarships and publications. In association with museums and leading institutions the Iran Heritage Foundation organises exhibitions and convenes conferences on the history and contemporary culture of Iran. Since its inception in 1995 the Iran Heritage Foundation has organised or supported 40 conferences, 36 multi disciplinary events and exhibitions, and 62 film and performing arts festivals and events. It has facilitated the study and understanding of Iran's history and contemporary culture through 59 academic and travel grants, 65 cultural and academic publications, and 7 university fellowships. Previous events include 'Shah 'Abbas: The Remaking of Iran' at the British Museum, 2009, 'Iran: New Voices' at the Contemporary Iranian Theatre, Film and Video Art Festival, Barbican, 2009, 'Iranian Contemporary Art and Culture' - the first ever exhibition of contemporary Iranian art in Europe - at the Barbican, 2001, and 'Women: The Heart of Iranian Cinema' at the Film Festival and Conference, BFI, 2002.
www.iranheritage.org

... Payvand News - 12/03/09 ... --