Muzej afričke umetnosti / The Museum of African Art

HISTORY: Located in one of the most beautiful residential parts of Belgrade, the Museum of African Art is the only museum in the country dedicated exclusively to the culture and art of the African continent.

The museum was created thanks to an extremely valuable collection, donated by Veda donors and Dr. Zdravko Pecar, for a long time in West Africa, is a great connoisseur and dedicated collectors of African art. For more than twenty years, Dr. Pečar, along with his wife Vedom, traveled across the African continent, first as a journalist, then as a diplomat and ambassador. Excellent knowledge of African history, culture and art, close association with the lives of African people and their customs, enabled the founders to accumulate a wealth of valuable items, which today make up one of the representative collections of African art, with great material efforts.

The Pecari donated this extraordinary collection to the city of Belgrade. Under the auspices of the City Assembly, in 1977, the Museum of African Art was founded. What makes this museum unique is that all museum items are brought out of Africa with the written permission of African governments.

The initial collection of the museum was enriched with purchases and gifts, not only individual objects, but also entire collections, so the museum collection now contains several thousands of authentic art objects from the countries of western, central and eastern Africa.

MISSION: "The Museum of African Art will expand and revolutionize the cultural awareness of our people, drawing closer to a more global understanding of history and culture, of man and of society. In the spectrum of our institutions dedicated to different areas and periods, from archaeological through medieval to the collection of new art - this Museum, both as a collection and as projected activity, frees us from inherited eurocentric and ethnocentric views and cultural prejudices and strides, inspiring deeper and wider viewing of culture , history and man. "

From the speech of Zivorad Kovacevic, President of the Belgrade City Assembly, from the opening ceremony of the Museum of African Art, May 23, 1977

During its thirty years of work, this institution has made a significant contribution to the expansion and cultivation of cultural ties, in promoting the principles of multiculturalism and cultural diversity, and in emphasizing the importance of African and non-European cultural and artistic heritage, recognized internationally by UNESCO , making it a valuable part of the world heritage.

Mission MAU

• MAU collects, preserves and exhibits artifacts of African culture and art
• MAU popularizes and spreads knowledge about traditional and contemporary cultural and artistic creation of Africa and the African diaspora.
• MAU encourages appreciation and understanding of Africa's art, history and heritage, and develops respect for Africa, its peoples and the impact of African creativity on world art.
• MAU develops awareness of cultural diversity, opening up a space for multicultural dialogue between communities.

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HISTORY: Situated in one of the most beautiful residential areas of Belgrade, the Museum of African Art is the only museum in the country, entirely dedicated to the culture and art of the African continent.

The Museum was created to house an extremely valuable African art collection, assembled by connoisseurs and dedicated art collectors - Veda and Dr. Zdravko Pečar, during their years spent in West Africa. In the span of more than twenty years, Dr. Pečar, accompanied by his wife Veda, traveled across the African continent, initially as a reporter, and later as a diplomat and ambassador. Exceptional knowledge of African history, culture and art, a close relationship with the African peoples, their customs and lifestyle, as well as a great personal and material effort, enabled the benefactors to collect pieces of immense value that today constitute an extraordinary collection of African art.

The couple has captured this exceptional collection to the City of Belgrade. Under the patronage of local authorities, the Museum of African Art was opened to the public in 1977. What makes this museum unique is the fact that all the museum items were exported from Africa with a written permission from the respective African governments.

The founding collection of the museum is continuously being enhanced by purchases and donations, not only in single African pieces, but in whole collections. Therefore, the museum collection currently consists of several thousand authentic tradition-based objects originating in West, Central and East Africa.

MISSION: "The Museum of African Art will develop and revolutionize the cultural awareness of our people, bringing them closer to a more global understanding of history and culture, man and society. In the wider range of institutions dedicated to different fields of work and periods, from archeological or medieval to contemporary art collections - this Museum, as a collection and a sum of activities - frees us from our inherited eurocentric and ethnocentric beliefs, cultural prejudices and narrow-mindedness, inspiring a deeper and broader outlook on culture, history and man. "

From the speech of the President of the Belgrade Municipal Assembly (city mayor) Živorad Kovačević, delivered at the opening ceremony in the Museum of African Art, May 23rd 1977.

In its thirty years this institution has made a significant contribution to the expansion and cultivation of cultural relations with related relevant institutions abroad, it has worked on promoting principals of multiculturalism and cultural diversity, and also in shifting focus towards the importance of African and non-European cultural and artistic heritage, recognized by UNESCO on an international level, as an important constituent of world heritage.

Mission statement

• MAA collects, preserves and exhibits artifacts of the culture and arts of Africa.
• MAA popularizes and disseminates knowledge on traditional and contemporary art and culture of Africa and African diaspora.
• MAA cultivates appreciation and understanding of the arts, history and heritage of Africa, and inspires respect for Africa, its peoples and its impact on world culture and art
• MAA builds awareness of cultural diversity, and creates opportunities for a multicultural dialogue

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Links / links:

http://www.museumofafricanart.org/

http://www.youtube.com/user/africanmuseum

https://twitter.com/AfricanMuseum