• Charles Sturt University welcomes the launch of plans for the Museum of Islamic Art Australia (MIAA) at an inaugural gala dinner
• The event marked the unveiling of the museum’s architectural design following $26.3 million grant

A gala event at the Art Gallery of NSW on Saturday 25 July celebrated the launch of the design for the Museum of Islamic Art Australia (MIAA), an ambitious proposal for a new world-class museum to be located at Granville in western Sydney.

The MIAA began its journey in 2023 as the Sydney Islamic Art Museum project, and was presented to the NSW Government by the Islamic Sciences Research Academy (ISRA) with the support of Charles Sturt University.

The University’s involvement came through its Centre for Islamic Studies and Civilisation (CISAC) and its partnership with the ISRA, which successfully secured a $26.3 million grant to build the museum.

The grant is part of the WestInvest Community Project Grants initiative of the NSW Government where a total of $1.6 billion in funding was awarded to projects across 15 eligible local government areas in Western Sydney.

Head of School of the Charles Sturt Centre for Islamic Studies and Civilisation Professor Mehmet Ozalp (pictured) said the Museum of Islamic Art Australia will be a place where art, culture and education bring people together.

“By creating opportunities for understanding and meaningful engagement, the museum will contribute to social cohesion and help build stronger connections across Australia’s diverse communities,” Professor Ozalp said.

“For Australian Muslims, it will be an important expression of identity and belonging, providing a space where their artistic, cultural and intellectual contributions can be celebrated as part of Australia’s shared national story.”

Professor Ozalp said the CISAC has played a significant role over many years in advancing scholarship, education and community engagement relating to Islam in Australia, and the MIAA has grown out of that broader vision of contributing to Australian society through education, research and intercultural understanding.

“While the Museum is an ISRA initiative, Charles Sturt University has been an important academic partner from the beginning,” he said.

“The University’s Vice-Chancellor, Professor Renée Leon, has provided longstanding support for initiatives such as this that connect academic knowledge with community impact and contribute to Australia’s cultural and educational landscape.”

Charles Sturt University Vice-Chancellor Professor Renée Leon (pictured) said the Museum is a project of national significance, one that will enrich Sydney, contribute to Australia’s cultural landscape and provide a lasting legacy for future generations.

“In a time when social cohesion and mutual understanding are more important than ever, institutions such as this matter profoundly,” Professor Leon said. “They create spaces in which culture becomes a bridge rather than a barrier.”

Professor Ozalp said the ISRA’s clear and unwavering vision is to be a leading institution for the advancement of Islamic awareness, spiritual growth and community wellbeing in Australia.

“The MIAA is a natural extension of this vision,” he said.

“It will be a multifaceted space that celebrates beauty, fosters understanding and inspires connection and, looking ahead, we see many opportunities for collaboration between the Museum and Charles Sturt University.”

Recent developmental milestones include the purchase of land on Parramatta Road at Granville in the heart of Western Sydney on Dharug Country, and the appointment of ARM Architecture as the official architects for the museum design.