UNESCO Chair Investiture Ceremony at Madanjeet Singh Institute of South Asian, BNU: Pioneering Inclusion through Art in Pakistan

Press Release

UNESCO Chair Investiture Ceremony at Beaconhouse National University Lahore, December 13, 2024 

Madanjeet Singh Institute of South Asian Arts (UMISAA), Beaconhouse National University (BNU) proudly announces the Investiture Ceremony of the UNESCO Chair on Inclusion through Art, the first of its kind in Pakistan, to be held on December 13, 2024, at the university’s campus. This prestigious occasion marks a significant milestone in promoting inclusive and sustainable arts education on both a national and global scale.

The event will feature key addresses by esteemed leaders, including the Chairperson of BNU's Board of Governors, Mrs. Nasreen Mahmud Kasuri, and the Vice Chancellor of BNU, Dr. Moeed W. Yusuf. The Chairholder, Professor Rashid Rana, an internationally celebrated artist and academic, will share insights into the Chair's mission and objectives. Adding an international perspective, Dr. Cristina Menegazzi, an International Expert on Culture and Heritage from UNESCO, will also address the gathering.

A special highlight of the ceremony will be a panel conversation led by Associate Professor Rohma Khan, who serves as the Director of Programs for the UNESCO Chair. The discussion will delve into the Chair's vision of fostering regional collaboration, expanding the idea of transdisciplinary creative practices, and advancing research and inclusive education in the arts.

Additionally, the event will feature a video message by Madame France, Trustee of the Madanjeet Singh Foundation, a vital supporter of this initiative, emphasizing the Chair's global importance.

The event also includes a tour of the exhibition: Atlas of Everywhere at SVAD, curated by Prof. Risham Syed and Aarish Sardar, with co-curation by Waleed Zafar and curatorial advisory from Prof. Rashid Rana. The exhibition explores a dynamic dialogue between the tangible and the infinite in our ever-evolving contemporary world.

This UNESCO Chair, established under the UNITWIN/UNESCO Chairs Programme, underscores BNU’s commitment to advancing education, research, and community engagement in the arts, focusing on inclusion and sustainability. The Chair aims to create opportunities for interdisciplinary learning, foster creative collaborations across South Asia, and advocate for practices that benefit diverse and underrepresented communities.

 For more information, please contact:

Secretariat of UNESCO Chair on Inclusion through Art at BNU

Email: moc.unescochair@bnu.edu.pk

Prof Rashid Rana is the Director of UNESCO Madanjeet Singh Institute for South Asian Arts, Beconhouse National University Lahore, Pakistan


Dr Cristina Menegazzi International Expert on Culture and Heritage, UNESCO Pakistan Office


Mrs Nasreen  Kasuri Vice Chancellor of Beaconhouse National University Lahore (BNU)


From left to right: Associate Professor Rohma Khan, Dr Faisal Khan, Professor Quddus Mirza, Ms. Durre Shehwar Ali


Prof Rashid Rana is the Director of UNESCO Madanjeet Singh Institute for South Asian Arts, Beconhouse National University Lahore, Pakistan with Mrs Nasreen  Kasuri Vice Chancellor of Beaconhouse National University Lahore (BNU)

Read more about "Pakistan"...

Read more about "UMISAA"...