Mahrukh Tarapor Named Museum's First Director for International Affairs
(New York, March 22, 2006)—The Metropolitan Museum of Art announced today the establishment of its first full-time representative office overseas, located in Geneva, Switzerland. The Metropolitan further announced that Mahrukh Tarapor, who has served for 11 years as the Museum's Associate Director for Exhibitions, has been named to the additional post of Director for International Affairs, Geneva Office.
Central to the Metropolitan's mission is the exchange of scholarship and works of art, and in her new role Dr. Tarapor will expand and promote the Museum's crucial relationships with museums and cultural ministries around the world.
"Mahrukh Tarapor is one of the most widely respected museum professionals in the world," said the Metropolitan Museum's Director, Philippe de Montebello, in announcing the appointment. "Her diplomatic skills, knowledge, and energy have enhanced exhibitions here for almost 20 years. Now, her increased international presence will build new bridges between the Met and its established colleagues and potential partners worldwide. Her goal is to ensure that the Metropolitan maintains a broadened and nonpartisan presence in a number of the world's leading cities."
He continued, "Geneva has been chosen for its cosmopolitan environment, proximity to major international organizations, and easy access to Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. The Metropolitan Museum is particularly grateful to former Minister Carlo Lamprecht and to the Department of Economy for facilitating the establishment of this new office."
In her new post, Dr. Tarapor will continue to supervise the Museum's Exhibitions Office and to work closely with the Metropolitan's curators on their program of
temporary exhibitions and permanent installations, traveling frequently todestinations worldwide for this purpose. A particular priority will be the reinstallation of the Museum's galleries for Islamic art, which are scheduled to reopen in 2009-2010.
Commented Dr. Tarapor: "The Metropolitan's establishment of an office in Europe is a forward-looking initiative in a world of shrinking borders. Throughout its history, and especially during the past three decades under the stewardship of director Philippe de Montebello, the Museum has sought to broaden its international scope by means of major exhibitions, acquisitions, loans, and scholarship, using the remarkably diverse talents and perspectives of its distinguished curators as well as the expertise of their colleagues in museums around the world. The Geneva office is therefore, in effect, a natural extension of the Metropolitan's activities worldwide, and reflects the importance placed by the Museum's Board of Trustees on their continued expansion. I very much welcome the prospect of contributing to this endeavor, with the hope that the dynamics of international collaboration eventually may transcend geographical and cultural divides."
Born in India, Mahrukh Tarapor received her Ph.D. from Harvard University. She joined the Metropolitan in 1983 and since 1985 has been responsible for the Museum's program of exhibitions. In this position Dr. Tarapor has worked closely with governments and museums around the world and has initiated many new relationships. Special collaborations with Spain, Morocco, and Egypt have resulted in such highly praised undertakings as the exhibition Al-Andalus: The Art of Islamic Spain, presented at the Alhambra in Granada; the conservation of the Kutubiyya minbar at the Badic Palace, Marrakesh; and the establishment of new exhibition galleries at Saint Catherine's Monastery, Sinai. In addition, over the last 10 years Dr. Tarapor has supervised the organization of a number of significant international exhibitions including Egyptian Art in the Age of the Pyramids; Art of the First Cities: The Third Millennium B.C. from the Mediterranean to the Indus; China: Dawn of a Golden Age, 200-750 A.D.; Prague, The Crown of Bohemia, 1347-1437; as well as The Glory of Byzantium and its sequel Byzantium: Faith and Power (1261-1557).
The address of the new office in Geneva is:
23, Quai des Bergues
1201 Geneva
Switzerland
+4122-909-6868 (telephone)
+4122-909-6860 (fax)
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