VANCOUVER.- The Museum of Anthropology at the University of British Columbia presents the exhibit Aga Khan Architectural Award Winners 1980-2004: A Photographic Display through June 23, 2006, Winners of the Aga Khan Award for Architecture in the last two decades are featured in a photographic display at MOA. The Award was established in 1977 to enhance the understanding and appreciation of Islamic culture as expressed through architecture. It is organized on the basis of a three-year cycle and is governed by a Steering Committee chaired by His Highness the Aga Khan.

Through its efforts, the Award seeks to identify and encourage building concepts that successfully address the needs and aspirations of societies in which Muslims have a significant presence. The selection process emphasizes architecture that not only provides for people's physical, social and economic needs, but that also stimulates and responds to their cultural and spiritual expectations. Particular attention is given to building schemes that use local resources and appropriate technology in an innovative way, and to projects likely to inspire similar efforts elsewhere.

The Award is organized on the basis of a three-year cycle and is governed by a Steering Committee chaired by the Aga Khan. A new Committee is constituted each cycle to establish the current eligibility criteria for the projects, to provide thematic direction in response to the priorities and issues that have emerged during the recent past, and to develop plans for the cyclical and long-term future of the Award. The Steering Committee is responsible for the selection of the Master Jury appointed for each Award cycle, and for the programmes of such activities as seminars and field visits, the Award Presentation Ceremony Events, publications and exhibitions.

Prizes totalling up to US$ 500,000 – constituting the largest architectural award in the world – are presented every three years to projects selected by an independent Master Jury. The Award has completed nine cycles of activity since 1977, and documentation has been compiled on over 7,500 building projects located throughout the world. To date, the Master Juries have selected ninety-two projects to receive Awards – for more information, please see Previous Award Cycles. The Tenth Award Cycle covers the period from 2005 to 2007.

This display is organized in conjunction with a three-day public program to be presented June 1-3 by MOA and CICA, the International Architectural Critics’ Association. The program, entitled “A Dialogue of Cities,” brings together eight leading architecture critics to explore current urban issues and museum-building in some of the world’s most fascinating cities: Mexico City, Rome, Hong Kong, Havana, Dubai, Nairobi, London, Lower Manhattan – and, of course, Vancouver.