In a pivotal move that bridges education, culture, and environmental responsibility, the Ghiabi Family Trust has collaborated with Columbia University’s School of the Arts to support the international symposium “Art, Architecture, and the Anthropocene: New Visions for a Changing World,” held in November 2019 at Columbia’s Lenfest Center for the Arts.
At a time when the global cultural community is increasingly grappling with the realities of climate change, social displacement, and environmental degradation, the symposium offered a much-needed space for critical reflection and creative proposal. The Ghiabi Family Trust’s contribution enabled the symposium to bring together a truly global assembly of thought leaders from fields as diverse as architecture, visual arts, philosophy, urban ecology, and indigenous studies.
Empowering Diverse Voices in Sustainability
One of the defining aspects of the symposium was its commitment to diversity — both geographically and intellectually.
Thanks to the Trust’s support, the event was able to sponsor travel and participation for emerging Iranian artists, urbanists from Latin America, and community architects from Southeast Asia, ensuring that the conversation around sustainability was not dominated by Western narratives alone.
Among the notable participants was Iranian architect Parisa Khosravi, whose lecture “Memory in Urban Spaces: Reclaiming Ecological Wisdom” explored how ancient Persian architectural practices can inform sustainable design strategies today. Her insights into wind towers, water channels (qanats), and climate-adapted materials enriched the symposium’s cross-cultural dialogue.
Other key sessions included:
- Living Landscapes: Exploring how architecture can incorporate self-sustaining natural systems.
- Art and Activism: How visual artists are reshaping narratives around climate justice.
- Cities After Climate Crisis: Envisioning the reconstruction of public spaces for ecological resilience.
Throughout the sessions, a recurring theme emerged: the future of cities and communities will depend not only on technological solutions but on a profound cultural shift—one that values sustainability as a foundation for everyday life.
Beyond the Event: A Lasting Contribution
Beyond facilitating participation, the Ghiabi Family Trust also funded the creation of a post-symposium publication, titled “Imagining Resilient Futures.”
This forthcoming book will compile essays, artist statements, architectural models, and transcripts from the symposium, ensuring that the knowledge generated during the event remains accessible to future researchers, students, and cultural institutions.
The Trust emphasized that this was not a one-time sponsorship, but part of a broader commitment to supporting global academic conversations where culture and environmental responsibility meet.
“Our approach is not about prestige or visibility,” said a representative from the Trust. “It is about ensuring that vital conversations, especially those involving artists and architects, continue to have the platforms they need to influence future generations.”
Setting an Example for Private Philanthropy
The model practiced by the Ghiabi Family Trust — providing strategic but quiet support to academic and cultural institutions — drew praise from several speakers at the event.
In a time when much philanthropic support is accompanied by branding demands and visibility requirements, the Trust’s approach allowed Columbia University to maintain complete intellectual independence while still receiving critical resources to amplify its reach.
Dr. Meredith Chan, Director of Public Programs at Columbia, noted:
“Having partners like the Ghiabi Family Trust who believe in the power of ideas without trying to control them is rare and precious. Their support made it possible for us to dream bigger, invite more voices, and think beyond traditional boundaries.”