What Our Projects Are and Why They’re Important
This fundraising initiative will support two groundbreaking projects:
- Fez: City of Migrants – A Documentary This documentary film project, produced by Dr. Ali Asgar Alibhai, assistant professor of art historyand directed by Moroccan filmmaker Amine Faali (current UT Dallas PhD student), captures the layered history of Fez, Morocco, focusing on the migration of people, art and architecture. The film explores the city’s rich cultural legacy and its function as a historic refuge for migrants, including Andalusian, Tunisian, Berber and Jewish communities. We will present the Moroccan city of Fez as a crossroads of civilizations and an urban map for the human experience through archival photographs, travelogues and expert interviews.
- Muqqadimah: A Journey Through the Great Mosque of Kairouan This project aims to create an open-source digital learning tool for the 7th century Great Mosque of Kairouan, providing a hands-on experience through video game simulation. Participants will have the opportunity to explore this medieval monument in an immersive digital environment. Additionally, they will learn about the architectural features of medieval mosques, the cultural history of Ifriqiya (modern-day Tunisia) and significant medieval Islamic art historical objects within the simulation. This self-guided, interactive scholarly approach will help participants gain insights into art history and cultural heritage using innovative game-based and art historical pedagogy.
Fundraising Goal and Impact
Our goal is to raise $2,500 to support these projects and our hardworking students. These funds will help us:
- Cover research and production expenses for the Fez: City of Migrants documentary, including travel to Morocco, filming and post-production.
- Develop and enhance Muqqadimah: A Journey Through the Great Mosque of Kairouan, including 3D modeling, programming and historical research as we move into phase II.
- Help students develop their skills for professional careers.
Stretch Goals:
- Additional funds will be used for advanced filming equipment, extended post-production editing and further enhancements to the video game’s interactive features.
- Any extra funds will go towards the MENARAH Initiative and funding student research projects, supporting future interdisciplinary research and digital humanities work at UT Dallas.
Our Impact
These projects aim to transform the way history, architecture and cultural heritage are studied and understood. Through these initiatives, we will:
- Transform UT Dallas into one of the world’s leading research universities for the Middle East, North African and South Asian regional art historical and historical studies and digital research projects.
- Increase awareness of Fez as a historic migration hub and cultural crossroad.
- Enhance digital tools for teaching medieval Islamic art history, making it accessible to a wider audience.
- Provide hands-on learning opportunities for UT Dallas students in documentary filmmaking, digital humanities and game-based pedagogy.
- Promote interdisciplinary research, bridging history, art, technology and storytelling to create innovative educational experiences.
- Ensure the preservation and dissemination of historical knowledge through interactive and multimedia platforms.
Who We Are: The MENARAH Initiative
The MENARAH Initiative (Middle Eastern and North African Research of Art and History Initiative) at The University of Texas at Dallas is a pioneering research lab within the Harry W. Bass Jr. School of Arts, Humanities, and Technology. It explores the intersection of history, art history and digital humanities, focusing on the Islamic world and its surrounding regions. MENARAH aims to reshape scholarship in these areas by integrating cutting-edge tools like VR, 3D modeling and digital media to create open-access educational resources. We welcome research on, but not limited to, the historic and modern Middle East, North Africa, sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, Central Asia, Southeast Asia and Europe. As both a digital and physical hub, MENARAH promotes engagement with the rich material culture of Islamic civilizations, empowering students and scholars to explore diverse societies through modern, collaborative methods. Learn more about the MENARAH team and our other projects at https://menarah.com/team/.
Above Project Team Members
We are an interdisciplinary team of professors, art historians, historians, student filmmakers, game designers and animators affiliated with the MENARAH (Middle Eastern and North African Research of Art and History) Initiative at UT Dallas. Our projects team members include:
- Dr. Ali Asgar H. Alibhai, assistant professor of art history at UT Dallas and initiative supervisor.
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- Fatima Esmail, art history PhD candidate in visual and performing arts.
- Hamida Khatri, PhD candidate in ATEC.
- Amine Faali, PhD student in film studies and documentary filmmaker.
- Mahdi Dolatyari, PhD student, VPAS, calligrapher, artist, art history.
- Farazana Razzaque, PhD \student, VPAS, calligrapher, artist, art history.
- Jacklyn Haefner, MA in art history from the Edith O’Donnell Institute of Art History.
- Nida Jaffer, MA student in art history, project researcher, co-producer of the documentary and project manager for the video game project.
- Golsa Egbali, MA student in art history, author of Ghalin History (www.ghalinhistory.com), a MENARAH Initiative project.
- Anna Shovlin, future MA student at the Edith O’Donnell Institute of Art History, experienced in digital humanities projects, game design and animation; digital modeler for the Great Mosque of Kairouan project.
- Seher Karakas, future MA student at the Edith O’Donnell Institute of Art History and video game architect for the Great Mosque of Kairouan project.
Why You Should Support Us
We are redefining the way art history and cultural heritage are studied by incorporating documentary filmmaking and digital humanities into the learning experience. By supporting these projects, you are helping to:
- Preserve and disseminate cultural history through engaging, accessible formats.
- Develop innovative, interactive methods for teaching art history and cultural studies.
- Offer students hands-on experiences that integrate history, technology and digital storytelling.
- Expand academic and public engagement with medieval Islamic art and architecture.
How You Can Help
Every contribution counts, whether it’s $10, $50 or $250. You can also support us by:
- Sharing our campaign with your friends and network.
- Following us on social media and spreading the word.
- Instagram: @menarahcenter
- Bluesky Social: @menarah.bsky.social
- Engaging with our work through the MENARAH website (www.menarah.com).
