Over the past three decades, the Khalili Foundation has been a global leader in promoting interfaith and intercultural relations. The Foundation has supported and driven a number of internationally recognised projects that use the power of art, culture and education to bring people together. Our partners include UNESCO, the Commonwealth and the King's Trust.
Explore our initiatives
The Khalili Foundation proudly awarded the first-ever Commonwealth Peace Prize to two exceptional peacebuilders from {...}
Event Geneva, Switzerland – May 28, 2025 – The Khalili Foundation played a pivotal role in a groundbreaking high-level event on refugee resilience hosted by the United Nations High Commissioner for […]
Read More13 Jun, 2025
Harry Verwayen – General Director at Europeana Foundation Our world is more connected than ever, but more divided too. Experts warn that conflict is the greatest danger we face in […]
Read More30 May, 2025
How a Unique 15th century Persian Painting Exemplifies Abrahamic Unity Historically, religious paintings usually depict one religious tradition or another. That’s what makes this 15th century masterpiece unique. An extraordinary […]
Read More23 May, 2025
The Khalili Foundation is working with UNESCO and Wikimedia UK on a project to raise awareness of the diversity of the world’s cultural heritage. This effort, fully funded by the […]
Read More02 May, 2025
The Khalili Foundation is proud to announce a significant new partnership with The King’s Trust, supporting vital initiatives to address the rise in hate crime across the United Kingdom through […]
Read More22 Apr, 2025
In the bustling intellectual hub of 14th-century Tabriz, a remarkable manuscript emerged that would challenge our modern notions of religious and cultural boundaries. The Jami’ al-Tawarikh, or “Compendium of Chronicles,” […]
Read More18 Mar, 2025
At last night’s Commonwealth Day reception, we were deeply honoured to welcome His Majesty King Charles III and Her Majesty The Queen. A defining moment of the evening was the […]
Read More11 Mar, 2025
Former Enemies Unite for Peace: Nigerian Religious Leaders to be Honoured at Commonwealth Day The Khalili Foundation is proud to announce the first-ever Commonwealth Peace Prize, to be awarded to […]
Read More04 Mar, 2025
Professor Akbar S. Ahmed The 21st century appears to present a very gloomy picture, at least to the great thinkers of our time. From Bernard-Henri Levy to Yuval Noah Harari […]
Read More28 Feb, 2025
✨ Available for Pre-order! ✨ Discover the wonders of Islamic art with Top Trumps: Islamic Art, created in association with the Interfaith Explorer programme. This unique pack features 30 cards […]
Read More21 Feb, 2025
The influence of Islamic civilization on the global story of science is well documented. Such a contribution can at least in part be attributed to the open, cross-cultural approach to […]
Read More20 Feb, 2025
Building Bridges Through Culture, Faith, and Peace As we reflect on an extraordinary year of impact and growth, the Khalili Foundation continues to advance its mission of fostering understanding and […]
Read More27 Jan, 2025
Professor Sir Nasser David Khalili has just returned from a busy tour of America’s East Coast where he had the opportunity to speak about his extraordinary book, The Art of […]
Read More13 Dec, 2024
The Khalili Foundation has announced a new partnership with UNESCO: funding support for the Memory of the World programme, which seeks to digitally preserve the incredible diversity of the world’s […]
Read More28 Oct, 2024
The Khalili Collections refers collectively to eight distinct art collections assembled by Professor Sir Nasser D. Khalili over a five-decade period. Together, the Collections comprise some 35,000 works of art. […]
Read More26 Oct, 2024
The Khalili Foundation has been announced as the Founder Member of The King’s Commonwealth Fellowship Programme (KCFP) at an event hosted at the University of Samoa with His Majesty King […]
Read More24 Oct, 2024
The Commonwealth Secretariat and the Khalili Foundation have recently introduced the Commonwealth Peace Prize, an award aimed at recognising outstanding individuals who contribute to global peacebuilding efforts.
Read More01 Oct, 2024
In a celebration of cultural heritage, Khalili Collections has unveiled a captivating new publication titled: Hajj and The Arts of Pilgrimage Essays in Honour of Nasser David Khalili. This book […]
Read More13 Sep, 2024
We are thrilled to share the exciting news that Europeana has reached a significant milestone—1000 editorial stories published on their platform! As proud collaborators with Europeana, the Khalili Foundation is […]
Read More20 Aug, 2024
The Khalili Foundation was represented at two recent global events discussing public access to culture. The one-day GLAM (Galleries, Libraries, Archives and Museums) Global Meetup and four-day Wikimania conference both […]
Read More16 Aug, 2024
The Khalili Foundation was proud to collaborate with the Commonwealth Secretariat for a groundbreaking International Youth Day event on August 12, 2024. This initiative, part of the ongoing Commonwealth Faith […]
Read More14 Aug, 2024
Yesterday, the English Wikipedia home page received an impressive 4.8 million visits. For 24 hours, visitors were greeted with an introductory paragraph about the “Empire of the Sultans” and a […]
Read More24 Jul, 2024
Click the play button above to watch the opening speeches, Commonwealth Faith Festival, by Rt Hon Patricia Scotland and Sir David Khalili Learn more about the Commonwealth Faith Festival.
Read More17 Jun, 2024
This evening marks the beginning of Hajj and we’re excited to share that this Chinese scroll with the text of Surat Al-Hajj from our Hajj and the Arts of Pilgrimage […]
Read More14 Jun, 2024
On Thursday, 2 May at Kellogg College, Oxford University, Ban Ki-moon, who as UN Secretary General (2007–2016) played a major role in securing the Paris Climate Agreement and promoting the […]
Read More06 Jun, 2024
Sir David Khalili delivered a landmark keynote lecture to the Faculty of Divinity at the University of Cambridge on 23rd May. The lecture titled “The Art of Peace”, based on […]
Read More28 May, 2024
Discover the profound insights of Professor Sir David Khalili, renowned for his unique synthesis of religious wisdom, as he delivers a keynote lecture on 'The Art of Peace' at the […]
Read More23 Apr, 2024
Available for download now via Amazon, this digital edition makes Sir David Khalili’s inspiring life story and profound insights into the art world accessible at your fingertips. Don’t miss the […]
Read More10 Apr, 2024
The Commonwealth Faith Festival, launched by the Rt Hon Patricia Scotland KC and Professor Sir Nasser David Khalili, Chairman of the Khalili Foundation, aims to foster collaboration and understanding among […]
Read More20 Mar, 2024
The 2024 Commonwealth Faith Festival, a partnership between the Khalili Foundation and the Commonwealth, was inaugurated by the Commonwealth Secretary-General, the Rt Hon Patricia Scotland KC, alongside our Founder, Sir […]
Read More23 Feb, 2024
We are thrilled to share that “The Art of Peace” by Sir David Khalili has been chosen as the Pick of the Week at the Bradford Literature Festival.
Read More06 Feb, 2024
Sir David's exceptional scholarly achievements have been duly recognized, leading to his appointment as an Honorary Fellow at the University of Cambridge via its Centre for Resilience and Sustainable Development […]
Read More01 Feb, 2024
In the latest installment of the renowned video game series, Assassins' Creed Mirage, players are treated to an immersive journey through history, where the rich tapestry of Islamic art comes […]
Read More26 Dec, 2023
A number of fine Meiji period Japanese Cloisonné masterpieces have been presented to the Ashmolean Museum, Oxford by Sir David and Lady Khalili.
Read More31 Oct, 2023
In 1967, Sir David Khalili finished his military service in Iran and travelled to study in the United States with $750 – his remaining royalties from a book he wrote […]
Read More03 Oct, 2023
We improved Wikipedia’s article about the World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development so that, from now on, it qualifies for being linked on Wikipedia’s home page. The […]
Read More28 Jul, 2023
World-renowned artist Beeple, who broke records in 2021 for selling an NFT for $69.3m, donated an NFT for his work “Biological Collectible'' (a magnificent digital work accompanied by a physical) […]
Read More24 Jul, 2023
A Khalili Foundation film in Association with UNESCO to mark the World Day for Cultural Diversity for dialogue and development.
Read More16 Jun, 2023
A special message from Rt Hon Baroness Patricia Scotland KC, Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, on the occasion of the World Festival of Cultural Diversity.
Read More16 Jun, 2023
For the World Day of Cultural Diversity, The Sámi Museum in Karasjok will prepare a 360° virtual tour in RUOKTOT – The Return of the Sámi Drums. RiddoDuottarMuseat – Sámiid Vuorká-Dávvirat, […]
Read More17 May, 2023
ERIAC Berlin and ERIAC Serbia prepare two exhibition openings to mark the Day of Romani Resistance on the 16th of May, presenting various Roma artists. The Gypsyism, Balkanism – Through a […]
Read More03 May, 2023
The Prince’s Trust will host four round tables with a diverse group of young people currently being supported by The Trust. To promote a wealth of experiences and opinions, the […]
Read More20 Apr, 2023
As part of the World Festival of Cultural Diversity, join us for a discussion with expert speakers offering a global perspective of scientific progress and a radical retelling of the […]
Read More18 Apr, 2023
We are delighted to be collaborating with the National Museum of Australia as part of the World Festival of Cultural Diversity. Firstly, on Saturday 13 May 2023, there will be […]
Read More18 Apr, 2023
We are glad to announce that Museo De Arte de Lima is participating with three events in the UNESCO festival initiative. Firstly, a workshop called “The transformation of territory as […]
Read More11 Apr, 2023
We are delighted to announce a special opening of Fort St Elmo and the National War Museum with re-enactors bringing history to life in every corner of the museum. Travel […]
Read More05 Apr, 2023
Makan, the Egyptian Centre for Culture & Art was founded in 2002 to record and promote traditional music in Egypt, increasingly in danger. The centre documents and presents traditional music […]
Read More01 Apr, 2023
We will be joined by The Vietnam National Museum of History in our 2023 festival celebrations. The museum will share a short film named “Vietnam’s betel and areca cultural heritage […]
Read More28 Mar, 2023
We are delighted to share the Matenadaran in Yerevan, Armenia as a participant and partner in the World Festival of Cultural Diversity. The project is a 3D tour of the […]
Read More20 Mar, 2023
The end of 2022 marked an important milestone in the partnership between the Khalili Collections and Wikimedia UK, with a substantial increase in the number of wiki articles and a
Read More03 Mar, 2023
The Khalili Foundation has for many decades engaged in a form of ‘cultural philanthropy’ – the act of giving and sharing not just through conventional financial means, but also via the production and distribution of cultural knowledge. Such knowledge is produced through amassing and conserving culturally significant artefacts and then researching and digitizing them. This knowledge is then shared and distributed via publications, exhibitions and through various digital platforms.
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Over the course of five decades, Professor Sir Nasser D. Khalili has assembled eight of the world's finest art collections - each on its own merit being the largest and most comprehensive of its kind. Together, the Eight Collections comprise some 35,000 magnificent works, many of which have been exhibited at prestigious institutions worldwide.
Wikipedia is the dominant reference site on the internet, providing educational material freely and without adverts, in hundreds of different languages. As part of its cultural philanthropy, the Khalili Foundation promotes the diversity of visual culture on Wikipedia and the other Wikimedia sites by sharing images and research, by employing a Wikimedian In Residence, and by helping students, researchers, and institutions share their knowledge.
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The Khalili Foundation collaborates with UNESCO to promote cultural diversity globally. Key initiatives include university endowments funding diversity projects, the World Festival of Cultural Diversity, which is an international celebration supported by UNESCO, and the Interfaith Explorers programme. This programme equips educators with resources to teach students about different cultures and faiths, fostering understanding and respect.
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Tensions existing in the world today are largely the result of ignorance and lack of understanding. If ignorance is the problem, then education must be the answer. With this premise, the Maimonides Interfaith Initiative launched Interfaith Explorers – a free, UNESCO supported, online learning resource designed to support the delivery of RE, PSHE and citizenship education in schools, alongside effective SMSC development.
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Being often hailed as one of the most culturally diverse collections in the world, we had chosen to focus our efforts on using our objects to curate stories about cross-cultural exchanges in the history of art and to show the interconnectedness of the human family. Some of these efforts had been shared and enjoyed by many online via our partners Google Art & Culture and Europeana, amongst others.
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On February 2024, amidst esteemed guests including Commonwealth High Commissioners, religious leaders, academics, and youth ambassadors, the 2024 Commonwealth Faith Festival was inaugurated by the Commonwealth Secretary-General, the Rt Hon Patricia Scotland KC, alongside our Founder, Sir David Khalili. The festival, themed ‘Peacebuilding through Faith,’ featured roundtable discussions aimed at identifying key focus areas and brainstorming solutions to today’s most urgent challenges.
Special Festival section on GA&C spotlighting various technological features and digital exhibits that showcase the world’s cultural expressions.
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A campaign to tackle the cultural bias on Wikipedia including the engagement of non-Western cultural institutions to digitize and release more content on open access.
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Six stellar panel discussions (webinars) over 12 months exploring how cross-cultural dialogue can be fostered through communities,
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Special event on the World Day of Cultural Diversity (May 21st 2023) at the UNESCO HQ in Paris. This will include talks, performances, film screenings, a reception and fundraising dinner.
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A Festival of ideas with the theme of “thinking through music” drawing from world music, dnace, film and visual arts.
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Special Festival section on the Europeana platform, bringing together stories of European culture in all its diversity.
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A series of lectures that explore the story and evolution of science throughout history and in different cultural contexts.
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An architectural design competition for resilient and adaptable houses that advance, adapt and update specific local building traditions to meet 21st century needs.
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An intercultural research project looking at how deliberate spaces can be created for greater cross-cultural dialogue and peacebuilding
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A short film to show how young people in the UK are using global citizenship to advance their career and learning opportunities.
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For the first time, Sir David shares his extraordinary journey: one that has taken him through the souks of North Africa, the auction houses of Europe and the United States, the bazaars of South Asia, and far beyond. Through a riveting collection of real-life adventures, he reveals his collecting strategy, business ethics and what motivates him to continuously collect, conserve, research, publish and exhibit the treasures in his collections.
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The Khalili Foundation has conceived, funded and driven a number of projects that promote cultural diversity worldwide. Among these are a campaign to promote the World Day for Cultural Diversity and the production of a milestone publication to mark the 20th Anniversary of the UNESCO Universal Declaration on Cultural Diversity.
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As one of the great preservers of Islamic cultural heritage, Professor Sir Nasser D. Khalili has always considered it a responsibility to showcase the contribution of Islamic art and culture to the world. So in 2005, the Khalili Foundation published Visions of Splendour: The Timeline History of Islamic Art and Architecture – a book written by Sir David that tells the story of Islamic civilisation through the art it produced.
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With over one hundred and twenty publications, each work of art in the Khalili Collections has been meticulously conserved, researched, catalogued and as part of what is considered to be one of the most ambitious art scholarship projects in modern history. Over eighty eight volumes have already been published, personally edited by Professor Sir Nasser D. Khalili and with contributions from the world’s leading experts in each respective field.
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Over the last three decades, the Khalili Foundation has given a number of substantial grants and gifts to various international organisations, educational establishments and charities. These serve to encourage the excellent work being done by the respective organisations – both at the research and practitioner levels – and to mark occasions of cultural significance.
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The Khalili Foundation has made numerous cultural heritage donations to prestigious institutions globally. These contributions reflect the foundation’s dedication to preserving and sharing world heritage, fostering cross-cultural appreciation, and supporting academic and cultural institutions. Through these gifts, the foundation aims to strengthen global cultural understanding and ensure that significant cultural artefacts are accessible to a wider audience.
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Faith in the Commonwealth is a joint initiative between the Commonwealth and the Khalili Foundation to deliver Global Citizenship Education (GCED) and religious literacy in an interactive, practical and contemporary way.
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Professor Sir David Khalili, The Khalili Foundation and its initiatives have had the longstanding support and of UNESCO.
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The Khalili Foundation and The Kings’s Trust, through the Mosaic Initiative, together launch an exciting new social integration and youth leadership project.
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The Aspen Institute UK, in partnership with the Khalili Foundation, is launching the ‘Designing for Diversity’ webinar series, in which we explore these pertinent questions.
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The United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) was established in 2005, as the political initiative of Mr. Kofi Annan, former UN Secretary- General and co-sponsored by the Governments of Spain and Türkiye.
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Europeana shares and promotes Europe’s digital cultural heritage, making it accessible for everyone to use and enjoy—whether for learning, work, or simply for fun.
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Art UK is the online home for every public art collection in the United Kingdom. As an art education charity, Art UK democratises access to art.
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Wikimedia UK believes that open access to knowledge is a fundamental right, and a driver for social and economic development. Open knowledge and free access mean no barriers and no paywalls.
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Google Arts & Culture is a non-commercial initiative that partners with cultural institutions and artists worldwide. Together, their mission is to preserve and bring the world’s art and culture online, making it accessible to anyone, anywhere.
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Cambridge is a globally diverse institution, with students from over 130 different countries. Its researchers collaborate with colleagues worldwide, and the University has established partnerships across Asia, Africa, the Americas, and Europe.
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Oxford is a world-leading centre of learning, teaching and research and the oldest university in the English-speaking world.
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SOAS challenges perspectives, broaches debate, and empowers students to question the global status quo and find solutions to the issues facing the world today.
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