Bucks County Museum Trust PRESS RELEASE

The Art of Islam – Visit of the Kuwaiti ambassador

Venue: Buckinghamshire County Museum, Church Street, Aylesbury HP20 2QP, 01296 331441,

Dates: Friday 29th April 2016

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Around 150 guests thronged the County Museum’s special exhibitions gallery to hear the Kuwaiti Ambassador, Mr Khaled al Duwaisan, formally launch the Art of Islam festival in Bucks.

Mr al Duwaisan who is also Dean of the Diplomatic service and the longest serving of all ambassadors in London, came to the museum in Aylesbury on Friday during a busy week, but stayed for three hours enjoying the museum’s events and refreshments.

In a light-hearted speech, the ambassador challenged guests to the difference between an ambassador and a Camel. The answer, which was met by roars of laughter, was: “A camel can work for days without a drink, whereas a diplomat can drink for days without working!”

The museum mounted traditional Muslim hot food with naan breads and a variety of meat and vegetable dishes. Guests enjoyed a performance, sponsored by the Luton-Based Al Khayaal theatre group, of a 12th century story by Spanish born Ibn Tufail that was the template for the Robinson Crusoe story and for the Enlightenment philosophers such as Hobbes and Rousseau.

Richard de Peyer, Museum Director, said: “We were really pleased with Friday’s event which seemed to go down very well with all the guests. We are very proud because this is major exhibition is helping to build links between people and is emphasising the quality and beauty of Islamic civilisation.”

Major items have been borrowed for the exhibition from the British Museum, Birmingham City Museum and Art Gallery, the Horniman Museum in London and from a major private collection owned by renowned UK collector andphilanthropist Razwan Baig.

The programme for the Festival can be downloaded from:www.buckscountymuseum.org/whats on

Editors’ Note

A separate press release on the exhibition content is available to download from the museum website at Press releases – Bucks County Museum

Contact: For more information contact Richard de Peyer, Director on 01296 382119