A Studio Basel Cultural Initiative · Founded 2011
Capture the Spirit of Ramadan.
A 30-day visual celebration that grew into the world’s largest modern collection of Islamic-themed photography — thousands of images from more than 60 countries, exhibited from Kuala Lumpur to Trafalgar Square, and recognized from UNESCO to the White House. Founded and directed by Basel Almisshal, the initiative used photography to build bridges between cultures — one frame at a time.
The Initiative
Bridging Cultures, Inspiring Creativity.
The project’s founding motto was its method: photography as a common language that bridges faiths, nations, and backgrounds — and a creative platform that inspires photographers around the world to tell the story of the holy month through their own eyes.
A Global Platform
Launched in 2011 as a non-profit social-responsibility initiative of Studio Basel, the International Ramadan Photography Competition™ invited photographers everywhere — of every faith — to document the holy month across three categories: culture, architecture, and spirituality.
Co-founded with Harvard Museum Studies scholar Lina Ali, it became an annual 30-day celebration followed by thousands worldwide, with international media coverage and a growing global community season after season.
World-Class Judges
Basel founded and led the jury alongside some of photography’s most respected names: Steve McCurry (National Geographic), Dr. Shahidul Alam (World Press Photo judge), Peter Sanders, and Farah Pandith, then the White House Special Representative to Muslim Communities.
A Permanent Archive
The winning and shortlisted works form a curated collection of modern Islamic-themed photography without precedent in scale or range. A three-volume printed catalogue documents the collection — curated and designed by Studio Basel, published by the Islamic Arts Museum Malaysia, and acquired by the White House collection.
Still Touring, Still Teaching
The exhibition continues its museum life — most recently at the International Museum of Muslim Cultures in the United States — and remains a reference point for institutions exploring art as inter-faith dialogue. The collection is available for museum loan and exhibition partnership.
Recognition
Praised across institutions.
Milestones
Five seasons, a lasting legacy.
The first season. The competition launches as a Studio Basel initiative — a new kind of platform where photography meets inter-faith dialogue.
Global scale. More than 1,200 entries arrive from over 50 countries; fifteen works are shortlisted by the international jury.
The record year. Over 3,000 submissions from more than 60 countries — the world’s largest modern Islamic-themed photography collection takes shape.
The world tour begins. The exhibition debuts at the Islamic Arts Museum Malaysia under the auspices of HRH the Sultan of Selangor, then travels to London’s Trafalgar Square for the Eid Festival with the Greater London Authority.
The archive era. The tour reaches Melbourne, Australia and the United States — including Milwaukee City Hall (2016) and the International Museum of Muslim Cultures in Jackson, Mississippi; the three-volume catalogue enters the White House collection; the collection continues to tour museums today.
The Exhibition · Islamic Arts Museum Malaysia · 2014
Sixty prints, three months, 29,000 visitors.
The Book in the World
A catalogue that travels.
The Holy Month of Ramadan — A Visual Celebration is the project’s printed heart: more than 300 photographs from the competition, curated and edited by Basel Almisshal and Lina Ali, designed by Studio Basel, and published by the Islamic Arts Museum Malaysia in Kuala Lumpur. The first professional collective photography book devoted entirely to Ramadan, it traveled far beyond the exhibition walls — from museum libraries to the White House collection.
The World Tour
From Kuala Lumpur to Milwaukee.
Kuala Lumpur · Malaysia — London · UK — Melbourne · Australia — Milwaukee · USA — Jackson · USA
From the Winning Collection
The photographs that carried the message.
All photographs © their photographers · Capture the Spirit of Ramadan™ collection.
From the Archive
Moments along the journey.
Press & References
As covered worldwide.
Bring the collection to your museum.