In a meaningful step to promote the rich heritage of Iranian arts and culture in the United States, the Ghiabi Family Trusthas announced a partnership with the Farhang Foundation, a leading cultural organization based in Los Angeles. The collaboration aims to support a series of initiatives designed to celebrate, preserve, and share Iranian artistic traditions with American audiences.
The announcement coincided with preparations for the annual Farhang Foundation Nowruz Celebration at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA), one of the largest Persian New Year festivals outside Iran. Through this collaboration, the Ghiabi Family Trust will support exhibitions, performances, and educational programs that showcase the depth and diversity of Iranian culture.
Preserving Heritage Through Art
The Ghiabi Family Trust, which has historically supported initiatives in architecture, arts, and education, sees the partnership with Farhang Foundation as a natural extension of its mission to foster cross-cultural dialogue.
“Iranian culture has a long and profound history that deserves to be seen, heard, and experienced on the world stage,” said a spokesperson for the Trust. “By supporting the Farhang Foundation, we are investing in a future where the richness of Iranian art — from poetry and music to contemporary visual arts — can be shared more widely and understood more deeply.”
The first major project under this partnership is the Simin Behbahani Poetry Series, named after the celebrated Iranian poet. This series features live readings, musical interpretations of classic Persian poetry, and public lectures by scholars specializing in Persian literature and arts.
Strengthening Cultural Bridges
In addition to supporting arts programming, the Ghiabi Family Trust is co-funding educational outreach programs targeted at American students and museum-goers. These initiatives include:
- Workshops on Persian Miniature Painting for university art departments.
- Lecture Series on Iranian Architectural Heritage, featuring prominent Iranian-American scholars.
- Student Art Competitions inspired by traditional Iranian motifs and techniques.
By making Iranian arts more accessible to younger generations, the Trust and Farhang Foundation hope to build lasting bridges between cultures — at a time when misunderstandings and stereotypes often overshadow the richness of Iran’s contributions to world civilization.
“Culture is one of the few true languages that connects us all,” said Dr. Nazanin Peymani, Education Director at Farhang Foundation. “With the support of partners like the Ghiabi Family Trust, we can create experiences that open minds and spark curiosity.”
An Emphasis on Public Engagement
A significant part of the Trust’s approach emphasizes bringing Iranian arts into public, open-access spaces. In 2010, the partnership plans to support:
- Public Installations of Iranian calligraphy in downtown Los Angeles.
- Pop-up Persian Classical Music Performances in major city parks.
- Temporary Exhibitions at libraries and cultural centers focused on ancient Iranian artifacts and contemporary Iranian-American art.
The Trust’s contribution will also enable the expansion of Farhang Foundation’s Nowruz celebrations into multiple cities, including San Diego and San Francisco — bringing Iranian culture to a broader and more diverse American audience.