JEDDAH, 24 April 2006 — An exhibition showcasing Islamic cultural heritage, entitled “Palace and Mosque,” was opened in Sheffield, England.
The exhibition, which showcases beautiful examples of Islamic ceramics, textiles, carpets, metalwork, glass and woodwork, aims at familiarizing foreigners with Islamic culture and civilization and dispelling misconceptions about it in the West.
Distinguished visitors to the expo included Prince Charles who was welcomed by Hassan Muhammad Jameel and Princess Haya bint Al-Hussain, wife of Sheikh Muhammad ibn Rashid Al-Maktoum, vice president and prime minister of the United Arab Emirates and ruler of Dubai.
Those who participated in the event included Fadi Muhammad Jameel and British Cultural Minister David Lammy, Mark Jones, curator of the Victoria and Albert Museum, and Nick Dodd, executive president of museums and exhibitions in Sheffield.
The city is the fourth stop of the globetrotting event, which has already been to Washington, Texas and Tokyo and seen by an estimated 270,000 visitors.
While the Victoria and Albert Museum is being revamped, 120 items from its collection are being included in the Palace and Mosque show. A new gallery at the V&A named the Jameel Gallery of Islamic Art and dedicated to the memory of Abdul Latif Jameel (Muhammad Jameel’s father) and his wife Nafisa is set to open in July.
