oic research centre for islamic history, art and culture - ircica

IRCICA ActivitiesTrainees in calligraphy received their diplomas19 October 2007For over fifteen years IRCICA has been coordinating trainingcourses in various fields of arts, particularly the art ofcalligraphy. Trainees from within and outside the OIC MemberStates are participating in these courses, mostly in Istanbulduring the summer months, but also by correspondence atother times. The courses are taught by leading masters of thisart. In conformity with traditional practice, successful traineesreceive Ijaza (diploma, license or certificate of qualification)signed by their teachers and indicating the style of writingin which they were trained. Fifty-five calligraphers fromtwenty-two countries received diplomas through the Centreuntil now. Diploma ceremonies are organised for groupsof trainees and placed generally within the framework ofevents hosted or organisedby the Centre. Thirteencalligraphers - from sevendifferent countries - whorecently completed theirtraining courses receivedtheir diplomas before theinternational audiencefrom the OIC MemberStates, during the openingceremony of the TwentysecondSession of IRCICAGoverning Board heldon 19 October 2007. Theceremony was held in thepresence of H.E. Prof.Ekmeleddin İhsanoğlu,Secretary General of theOIC, H.E. Mr. MustafaBüyük, Undersecretary ofthe Ministry of Cultureand Tourism of Turkeyrepresenting H.E. theMinister Mr. ErtuğrulGünay, the heads of theConsular Missions of theOIC Member States inIstanbul, together withthe Board’s Chair H.R.H.Ambassador Dr. Wijdan al-Hashimi and distinguishedmembers. Addressingthe audience before thenpresentation of diplomas,The Ijaza a of Mr. Mandi (United Arab Emirates), who successfully wrote Hilyas(description of the features of Propher Mohammed) in two styles certifies to ahigh level of advancement.Director General Dr. Halit Eren said that IRCICA’s activitiescover a wide range of subjects, one of them “Islamic arts”,and that within the latter calligraphy has a special place. Heexpressed pride that IRCICA won recognition world-wide asa focal point in this field. He said that this was made possiblethrough the specially designed long-term programs whichwere established in the early 1980s by H.E. Prof. Ekmeleddinİhsanoğlu, Secretary General of the Organisation of IslamicConference, who was the Director General of IRCICA from1980 until the end of 2004. These programs aim to preservethis art in its classical styles, to encourage the performanceand transmission of expressions of traditional spirit andcreativity, such as most eloquently expressed in calligraphyand connected arts, andpromote cooperationamong calligraphers of theworld. Dr. Eren explainedthat in this field the Centreorganises competitions,exhibitions, conferencesand training programs. Thecalligraphy competitionsare held once everythree years; the seventhcompetition in the serieswas finalised last April.As to the exhibitions, theCentre frequently organisescalligraphy exhibitions onits premises and in variousOIC member countriesby displaying the awardwinnerworks. Furthermore,it coordinates trainingcourses for calligraphersfrom all over the worldwho wish to upgrade theirskills in various styles ofwriting. Congratulatingthe calligraphers who wereentitled to receive diplomas,he said that this was animportant point in theircareers in this art, since inthe classical tradition theIjaza delivered by the teacheris a license that certifies theSEPTEMBER-DECEMBER 2007, NO: 74 Newsletter 11