WASHINGTON, DC.- The Prince of Wales visited the Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, the Smithsonian's museums of Asian art, Wednesday, March 18. The Prince of Wales was there in his capacity as founder of Turquoise Mountain, a non-profit created to rebuild Kabul, Afghanistan's historic Old City and to rejuvenate the country's arts and crafts. The galleries will open an exhibition in March 2016 highlighting both the crafts of Turquoise Mountain artisans and the foundation's architectural restoration of the old city of Kabul.

The Prince of Wales, a noted enthusiast of Islamic art and the preservation of traditional crafts, met with Julian Raby, the Dame Jillian Sackler Director of the Arthur M. Sackler Gallery and the Freer Gallery of Art and Islamic art scholar; Shoshana Stewart, the CEO of Turquoise Mountain; and other officials involved with the upcoming exhibition.

"I am thrilled to welcome His Royal Highness to the museum to help us envision how we can best tell Turquoise Mountain's powerful stories of art and transformation," said Raby. "The artisans of Turquoise Mountain are bringing vibrant life to the endangered cultural heritage of millennia. They bring hope in place of tumult."

Founded in 2006, Turquoise Mountain is revitalizing the ruined craft district of Kabul's historic Old City, known as Murad Khani, training new generations of artisans in traditional techniques lost amid decades of conflict and creating a sustainable future for these indigenous crafts.

"We couldn't be more looking forward to partnering with the Smithsonian for this exhibition," Stewart said. "The history, culture and skill that exist in Afghanistan today are incredible resources and immense source of pride. We are happy that visitors in Washington will be able to see that firsthand and enormously grateful to the U.S. government, which has been a long-time partner in the project."

The exhibition at the Freer and Sackler galleries will showcase Afghan artisans' unique traditions of woodwork, calligraphy, ceramics and jewelry. Artisans from Murad Khani will be present to share their expertise and demonstrate their craft, allowing visitors to experience first-hand Afghanistan's rich cultural heritage. The show will also feature videos and large-scale photographs. The goal is to make it an immersive experience that simulates a visit to the Murad Khani. On view through December 2016, the exhibition is made possible in part by a grant from the United States Agency for International Development.