"Reigning is also creative" and creating "a new country, new people, new ways of life" was also "creation".
H.M. Shahbanou Farah Pahlavi
"The Symbol of Modern Iran"
The Shahbanou Farah Foundation was established in 1976 in Iran pursuant to a decree issued by H.M. Farah Pahlavi. The Foundation was to serve as the umbrella body for all organisations and initiatives under the patronage of Her Majesty. Shahbanou Farah took a hands-on approach and served as the de facto CEO, involved in all its major decisions. The Board of Trustees was composed of poets, philosophers, musicians, academicians, and representatives of the arts, sciences, social and public health communities. The headquarters were initially at Bagh-e-Ferdows, a charming 19th century house in a large garden in north Tehran.
Patron of art, museums, cultural centres, festivals, folklore and research organisations and programmes, Her Majesty steered their creation and expansion. Her Majesty’s patronage and support was extended to private initiatives encouraging private philanthropy and promoting access through provincial cultural events and museums without the use of public funds.
Shahbanou Farah aimed to revive Iran's cultural heritage and encourage new creative and artistic work, extend access to cultural events, centres and activities to all Iranians throughout the country, and to encourage members of the younger generation to learn about their cultural heritage and about world art and culture.
Shahbanou Farah Pahlavi Foundation in Iran
Her Majesty Shahbanou Farah Pahlavi
Institutional and Philanthropic Patronage
“Architecture on very large lines”
From a scholarly work referencing Pahlavis’ modernisation project as an architectural enterprise
This section presents an account of impact under the patronage of Shahbanou Farah. The various organisations may be grouped into three broad categories:
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Art | Culture | Museums
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Social Welfare | Public Health
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Education | Science
With a mandate was to serve the welfare and wellbeing of the Iranian people in all aspects of life, their funding came from public and private sources including The Pahlavi Foundation. Millions of people benefitted from the services and support of these organisations with an estimated one in ten of the Iranian population benefitting directly from one or more of these organisations and initiatives. Official government led initiatives like the National Library fall outside of this list.
Her Majesty Shahbanou Farah Pahlavi
Institutional and Philanthropic Patronage