On Friday 29 March, at a grand ceremony at the Calouste Gulbenkian Museum in Lisbon, the Aga Khan Music Initiative launched the first-ever edition of the Aga Khan Music Awards, with a meeting of renowned names from the cultural field and authorities from various countries involved in Aga Khan activities.

The inaugural celebrations are taking place over three days, continuing until Sunday, and act as a meeting forum for artists from the Middle East, North Africa and Middle East, regionally renowned cultural players including the directors of the festivals held across the mentioned regions, and promoters of arts, culture and artistic education in the region, among others.

Following the grand reception, guests moved to the large theatre hall located inside the Calouste Gulbenkian Museum where the Gulbenkian Orchestra conducted by Pedro Neves featured the master musicians of the Aga Khan Music Initiative.

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(Photos: Aga Khan Music Awards/AKDN)