Tehran Times, Iran
Oct 28 2007

Academy of Arts to acquire Christian collection
Tehran Times Art Desk

TEHRAN — The Iranian Academy of Arts is to purchase a collection of
artworks painted by Iranian Christian artists.

The paintings, which are to be bought by the end of the Persian
calendar year (early months of 2008), will first be displayed at a
special exhibition organized by the academy, the secretary of the
event Hadi Sohrabi told the Persian service of CHN.

He noted that a national art museum is scheduled to be established
under the auspices of the Iranian Academy of Arts and the collection
of paintings is scheduled to be transferred to the new venue.

Sohrabi believes that this exhibit will provide a long-awaited
opportunity for Christian artists to display their work and have it
publicly appraised.

`We have many great masters amongst our Christian community and we
must create this opening for them to make their mark by showcasing
their art,’ he added.

He went on to say, `Works by contemporary artists such as Marcos
Grigorian, Hanibal Alkhas, Sirak Melkonian and many others with whom
we are less familiar will be on display in the exhibit.

On the acquisition of the collection, he explained, `It is part of
our mandate to negotiate for the purchase of artworks with Christian
and Assyrian art centers in Iran as well as with the churches. We
will also accept donations from collectors in the sphere of Christian
art