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The rich and diverse culture of Afghanistan will be the subject of a series of exciting free public events co-sponsored by the Institute of Advanced Studies at The University of Western Australia and the Western Australian Museum.

The series, created to compliment the Afghanistan: Hidden Treasures from the National Museum, Kabul exhibition to be held at the WA Museum in Perth, will take an in-depth look at the complex blend of diverse cultures, civilisations and politics that have shaped contemporary Afghanistan.

Guest speakers include William Maley, Director of the Asia-Pacific College of Diplomacy at the Australian National University, Barat Ali Batoor, photographer and former refugee, Fred Smith, singer, songwriter and diplomat, and Alison Betts, Professor of Silk Road Studies at the University of Sydney. Each speaker will offer their own unique experience of Afghani culture and society.

Professor Maley, a regular visitor to Afghanistan and author of Rescuing Afghanistan and The Afghanistan Wars will deliver the first lecture of the series on 24 July at UWA. His talk will explore the potent effects of globalisation on Afghanistan.

The series will run between July and October 2014.  The events are free and open to the public, but prior registration is required via the online form on the Institute of Advanced Studies' website https://www.ias.uwa.edu.au/lectures/afghanistan .

The Afghanistan: Hidden Treasures from the National Museum, Kabul exhibition is based on nearly 230 objects drawn from a series of remarkable archaeological discoveries in Afghanistan, subsequently heroically preserved from the destruction wrought by war. The exhibition will be on show at the Western Australian Museum - Perth, from 26 July to 16 November.

Media references

Enquiries about the public talks:

Audrey Barton (UWA Institute of Advanced Studies) (+61 8) 6488 4797

Enquiries about the exhibition:

Flora Perrella (Western Australian Museum)(+61 8) 6552 7804