The opening of the Al -Barda exhibition at the Aga Khan Museum in Canada

Toronto on June 26 / WAM / His Excellency Sheikh Salem bin Khalid Al Qasimi, Minister of Culture, in the presence of His Excellency Sultan bin Saeed Al Mansouri, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, to Canada, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Dubai Chamber of Commerce, opened the exhibition “The sun appears to the eyes from a distance”, which is held in the Aga Khan Museum in the Canadian city of Toronto for the first time.
This exceptional exhibition, which continues until February 15, 2026, comes as a result of cultural cooperation between the Ministry of Culture and the Museum, to celebrate the twentieth anniversary of the launch of the award.
The exhibition is a qualitative station in the award march, as it includes more than 60 contemporary artworks of the innovation winners of the Barda Prize in addition to the number of 2 holdings of the full moon prize, and displays it in a visual dialogue with archaeological and historical holdings from the Aga Khan Museum group.

The exhibition explores the development of Islamic arts, which includes the art of Arabic calligraphy, decoration, and Arabic poetry.
The exhibition coordinated three graduates from the “Al Barada” program, Fatima Al -Mahmoud, Sarah Bin Safwan, and Sheikha Al -Zaabi, where they presented a contemporary artistic vision that expresses the spirit of the award and its future aspirations, in a cooperative experience that embodies the concepts of cultural empowerment and cognitive exchange across the border.
The exhibition is accompanied by a rich cultural program that includes specialized workshops, lectures, and seminars in the fields of Arabic calligraphy, poetry, and Islamic decoration, in addition to interactive presentations aimed at deepening the interaction of the public with the elements of contemporary Islamic art, and highlighting its diversity and flexibility in expressing aesthetic values ​​and cultural identity.
On the sidelines of the opening, the book “The sun appears to the eyes from a distance”, which documents the exhibition and highlights the artistic and intellectual dimensions of the Barda Award in the context of celebrating the twenty years of its launch, and the book includes a set of articles in prepared by a number of experts in Islamic arts, intellectuals and artists who provide in -depth analyzes and reflections about the award role in empowering contemporary Islamic art and promoting its presence and promoting its presence and promoting its presence and promoting its presence Within the global cultural movement.
This version represents a cultural and artistic reference that documents the development of calligraphy, decoration and word art, and reflects the commitment of the UAE to the auspices of Islamic arts, the consolidation of the values ​​of cultural exchange, and the deepening of the understanding of aesthetics that emerge from this ancient art.
In his speech during the opening, His Excellency Sheikh Salem bin Khalid Al Qasimi, Minister of Culture, confirmed that this event represents an important station in the march of the Barda Award. He said: “This exhibition represents a strategic step towards expanding the scope of cultural cooperation between the UAE and Canada, and embodies our firm commitment to presenting Islamic arts in contemporary frameworks that reflect common human values ​​and support communication between cultures. The Barda Award, in its twentieth year, continues its role as an international Emirati platform that seeks to re -present Islamic arts to the world in a language that keeps pace with the spirit of the times.”
His Excellency added: “We are proud that this copy of the exhibition is a pioneering partnership with the Aga Khan Museum, which reflects the depth of cultural openness and the role of art in building bridges of civilization. We look forward to continuing to work with our international partners to enable creators to contribute to forming a more diverse and influential global cultural scene.”
It should be noted that the Barda Award, which was launched in 2004, honored more than 390 talents from different countries of the world, including poets, plastic artists, and calligraphers specializing in Islamic arts, and the award has become a global international platform that celebrates this ancient art and the aesthetics of the rich Arabic language, and enhances the role of the UAE in caring for creativity and preserving the artistic heritage of Islamic civilization, and promoting the distinguished artwork of the audience worldwide.

• For more: Follow Khaleejion 24 Arabic, Khaleejion 24 English, Khaleejion 24 Live, and for social media follow us on Facebook and Twitter