Overview

Asian & Islamic Art Forum (AIAF) is an auxiliary with an international flavor, whose members are dedicated to fostering appreciation and understanding of the arts of Asia, the Islamic World, and the Ancient Middle East. Asian & Islamic Art Forum was founded in 2006.

AIAF sponsors five public lectures a year on a variety of art-related subjects—all are open to the public with Museum admission. Members also enjoy private tours of museums and collections, exclusive gallery and exhibition openings, as well as travel to exciting destinations.

Please click here to see our upcoming events.

AIAF also helps to fund the acquisition of works of art for the DIA's permanent collections. In 2007, AIAF contributed to the purchase of three photographs by Japanese photographer Hiroshi Sugimoto from his Hall of Thirty-Three Bays series (1995). In 2008, AIAF funded the purchase of a bi-folio from a large, 16th-century Qur’an from Egypt.

The new Gallery of Islamic Art at the DIA will open to the public on February, 2010. Come back frequently to learn about related public programs sponsored by AIAF.

While the DIA's Asian and Ancient Middle Eastern collections remain mainly in storage, AIAF continues to provide educational lectures and events about these collections areas to the general public.

You are cordially invited to join our adventure through the artistic universes, past and present, of Asia and the Islamic World by clicking here. We look forward to welcoming you as a member!

Image caption: Cut-tile Panel, Probably from Khargird, Eastern Iran, 1400-1500, Founders Society Purchase, DIA no. 24.93.