The Role of Museums in Shaping Cultural Identity

Guest: Shaika Nasser, Director of the Museum of Islamic Art & Dr Mounia Abudaya, Deputy Director of Curatorial Affairs at the Museum of Islamic Art Host: Mikey Muhanna, afikra Founder & Executive Director Description: How do museums shape the way culture is understood, interpreted, and shared? This session brings together Shaika Al-Nassr and Dr Mounia Chekhab-Abudaya from the Museum of Islamic Art to explore how exhibitions, collections, and curatorial decisions shape cultural meaning. The conversation goes behind the scenes of MIA’s work, looking at how the museum balances scholarship, storytelling, accessibility, and global relevance.