CHAIRLADY'S MESSAGE Dear friends, colleagues, supporters and MOP habitués, It’s hard to believe we’re eleven years old this year. MOP was started as an idea back in 2004, an exercise in cultural ground breaking as never before applied to the contemporary art scene in Iran. An organisation dependent on the pure muscle of passion and commitment, I can say in all modesty that the success of MOP in the last 10 years has been made possible by its committed and dedicated staff, its patrons and partners, the international artist community and above all the generous support of donating artists who see worth and value in our enterprise. We are an organisation that provides opportunities, platforms, space, art initiatives and cultural structures. Our bursaries, residency programmes, scholarships and grants through various notable international institutions like the Delfina Foundation, Parasol unit foundation for contemporary art, the London Film School, Goldsmiths University of London, and the British Museum have nurtured talent and helped to grow the next generation. This year’s notable project has been the launch of the MOP CAP Artist Directory, with the support of the British Council. Over 1,600 Iranian artists have applied to MOP CAP in the past seven years, their works archived for free public access. This will have a lasting legacy in the documentation and development of Iranian contemporary art.
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