ASSOCIATION WANTS GOVT TO SET UP ISLAMIC CALLIGRAPHY INSTITUTION

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 11 (Bernama) -- The National Islamic Calligraphy
Association wants the government to set up a special institute for Islamic
calligraphy to produce more Islamic calligrapghy writers in the country.

Its president, Mohammed Yusof Abu Bakar, said the setting up of the
institute was necessary as there was no specific institution on Islamic
calligraphy to produce more experts in the art who could compete at the
international level.

"Most of them studied (Islamic calligraphy) in Egypt, Syria and Turkey
because of their passion for the arts and they were willing to fork out their
own money to fund their studies in these countries," he told reporters when
launching the National Islamic Calligraphy Competition here, Tuesday.

He said it was a worthwhile effort to set up the institute because interest
among the young generation in calligraphy was growing and there was also a lack
of teaching staff to teach the art in schools.

Meanwhile, he said the National Islamic Calligraphy Competition would be
held on Oct 31 for the fourth time at the Islamic Arts Museum.
-- BERNAMA