World Collections Programme
and the Middle East

The WCP is funding or will be engaged in the following activity:

1) The WCP anticipates working with Iranian museum colleagues to establish collaborative projects and improve links, building on work already underway for the exhibition Shah 'Abbas, showing at the British Museum in February 2009.

2) Tate will lead a research and development programme which will focus on contemporary art and the Middle East. This aims to establish better bilateral relationships and a "knowledge bank" about contemporary art, curatorial expertise, collections and institutions which can be shared. The V&A and the British Museum are in consultation about the development of this programme.

3) The WCP has provided a contribution towards the British Museum’s 2008 International Curatorial Summer School, which has been adapted to make best use of the expertise of all six institutions. Representatives from museums in Iran and Iraq secured places on this Summer School.