The 2008 Program

The Mughal Empire was the most powerful Islamic Empire in the history of India and it lives in Western thought as a wondrous treasure trove of images. The 2008 program will focus on the interplay between various religions, languages, and art forms in a period when court patronage was essential to the production of art.

Participants will visit the Arthur M. Sackler Gallery’s exhibition, Muraqqa': Imperial Mughal Albums from the Chester Beatty Library, Dublin, which features Mughal paintings and calligraphies displayed in stunning imperial albums.  At the fall follow-up session, participants will return to the Sackler Gallery to view an exhibition of newly discovered paintings never before displayed in the US, Garden and Cosmos: The Royal Paintings of Jodphur.  Teachers will have the unique opportunity to view highly original works of art across four centuries, produced by the synthesis of Persian, Central Asian, Hindu, and Muslim traditions in the Mughal Empire.

What sorts of artistic production resulted from the religious and cultural pluralism of the Mughal Empire? How do indigenous cultures absorb the influence of expansionist cultures? What is meant by cross-cultural encounters?  Why do they provide such energy to cultural and artistic production?

Teachers will increase their knowledge of arts integration as they create lesson plans that use the arts to teach other core subjects such as reading, science, literature, and social studies.

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Institute Activities [Click here for complete schedule]
Lecture/Discussion Sessions

An Empire in Miniature: Understanding Mughal History through Art & Architecture

Religious Pluralism and Exclusivism in Mughal India

Sufi Poetry

Rajput Painting and the Mughal School

Workshops and Performance Classes

Signs of the Times: A Textiles Workshop Exploring Cultural Exchange & Appropriation

Indian Music

Picture Books: A Mixed-Media Workshop Exploring the Mughal Albums

Kathak Dance

Field Trip to Washington, DC
Freer Gallery of Art and the Arthur M. Sackler Gallery Exhibition
Muraqqa': Imperial Mughal Albums from the Chester Beatty Library, Dublin

Follow-up Sessions
November 1, 2008, at the Arthur M. Sackler Gallery exhibition:
Garden and Cosmos: The Royal Paintings of Jodhpur
and
May 2, 2009, at the University of Maryland
(attendance required)

*Residency Requirements

June 23 - 26
On-campus residency is required.  Move-out is possible on Friday.

June 27 - 30
On-campus residency from Friday through Monday is optional. Participants must attend all scheduled activities, including weekend events, in order to earn MSDE OR graduate credit. Applicants who wish to stay on campus for these four nights should check the appropriate box on the application form.

Accommodation and food will be provided at The Inn & Conference Center, University of Maryland, University College.

*Note: Double occupancy.  Additional fees for single occupancy.

To Apply

Teachers from different disciplines within one school are encouraged to apply in teams of two to four. Individual applicants will be placed in teams.

You may download the application form by clicking here.

You may also contact the Center for Renaissance & Baroque Studies
email: crbs@umd.edu
phone: 301-405-6830
fax: 301-405-0956
For best consideration, apply by:
April 1, 2008

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