I am delighted to share my collaboration with the Persian Manuscripts Association (PMA), an esteemed international academic organisation dedicated to the study of Persianate manuscripts. Since September, I have had the privilege of working alongside a community of scholars committed to preserving and advancing the understanding of this rich and complex heritage.

Founded in 2021, the PMA emerged in response to the unique challenges surrounding access to Persianate manuscripts. In an era where historical materials are scattered across the globe and require meticulous scholarly attention, the PMA plays a crucial role in fostering collaboration across multiple disciplines. With a focus on history, literature, music, art, architecture, archaeology, codicology, paleography, philosophy, and the sciences, this organisation serves as a hub for interdisciplinary research and dialogue.

One of the most exciting developments within the PMA is the establishment of the PMA Press in 2024. This scholarly imprint publishes academic monographs, conference proceedings, and Shamsa, a peer-reviewed journal that offers a platform for cutting-edge research in Persian studies.
For more information, please visit the PMA website.

PMA Press

The ambition of PMA Press is to create an efficient, productive, and swift publishing experience for authors, scholars, and academics. It highly values your time and strives to minimise the publishing timeline without compromising quality. PMA’s innovative, artistic, and professional design team ensures the highest standards for your publication.

At PMA Press, the publication process is meticulously crafted to provide clarity and efficiency. Each project begins with a thorough review by the PMA’s academic committee of your book proposal, which should include a summary of the book, its aims, and main features. Upon approval, the manuscript will be evaluated by anonymous, expert peer reviewers. Their feedback helps refine the content, ensuring your arguments are robust and withstand critical scrutiny.

Once the final manuscript is ready, the skilled design team transforms your work into a visually captivating and professionally polished publication. Following meticulous copyediting and proofreading, your book will be printed, marketed, and distributed to reach a global audience. PMA Press embraces a wide array of subjects that celebrate cultural heritage and intellectual exploration. We specialise in Persian studies (across all disciplines), Islamic manuscripts, and art books.

We collaborate with academics from diverse backgrounds and welcome contributions from researchers at all career stages – from emerging scholars to distinguished professors – to foster a collaborative and inclusive environment for advancing knowledge. Our commitment to excellence extends beyond content; we uphold the highest standards in artistic design and sustainability. Join us as we continue to make an impact through meaningful and transformative publications.

For more information visit the PMA website: PMA Press.

Shamsa: The Journal of the Persian Manuscripts Association

Shamsa is a scholarly journal that hopes to encourage rigorous and comprehensive studies into all aspects and periods of the historically Persianate world (including, but not limited to, Iran, Iraq, South Asia, Central Asia, and Turkey). The journal is a vital piece of the PMA’s mission to provide a forum for specialist colleagues around the world to connect, discuss developments in the field, and exchange ideas and information.

Shamsa accepts submissions that include articles or research notes from researchers working across periods and disciplines. It has an emphasis on the study of manuscripts and related media and welcomes compelling research on any aspect of Persian studies.

For more information visit the PMA website: Shamsa.

PMA International Conference

Listen to the Flute: Timurid Music and its Transmissions Across the Persianate World

The Persian Manuscripts Association (PMA) is pleased to announce its second international conference on Persian Studies, titled ‘Listen to the Flute: Timurid Music and its Transmissions Across the Persianate World.’

This interdisciplinary event will focus on the intricate and complex history of musical exchange, patronage, and practice within the Persianate world, with a particular focus on the Timurid period (15th century) and its enduring influence during the following centuries in Safavid Iran, Ottoman Anatolia, Mughal India, and Shaybanid Transoxiana.

For the first time, this conference will convene leading scholars in the field to explore the historical, social, and political contexts that shaped musical practices across the Persianate world. It will examine the evolution of music in the courts and urban centres of Iran, Central Asia, the Ottoman Empire, and Mughal India. Additionally, the conference will discuss the sociocultural impact of music, addressing its theoretical foundations, performance traditions, and the patronage systems that sustained and transformed the musical landscape.
For more information, please visit the PMA website: News.

PMA Monthly Talk Series

The PMA hosts a monthly talk series, bringing together experts to discuss various topics in Persian studies. The inaugural talk of 2025 was held at SOAS University of London:

Cobalt and Gold: Re-examining Lajvardina Wares and Links to Persian Manuscript Painting.

This lecture, delivered by Dr. Richard Piran McClary, explored significant themes from his monograph on lajvardina wares, focusing on their historical and artistic implications. The discussion examined the motifs on lajvardina vessels and tiles, comparing them with manuscript paintings to better understand the Ilkhanid aesthetic and architectural context.

Speaker: Dr. Richard Piran McClary, Senior Lecturer in Islamic Art and Architecture, University of York

Date: 23 January 2025, 5 – 7 pm

Location: SWLT, Paul Webley Building, SOAS University of London

Format: In-person and Online

My collaboration with the PMA is in line with my artistic and academic vision. As an artist, my work explores the themes of unity in diversity and cultural interconnectedness—concepts deeply embedded in Persian art and manuscript traditions. Through this collaboration, I contribute to the preservation and dissemination of this rich cultural heritage while developing my creative exploration of historical narratives and visual storytelling. The PMA’s interdisciplinary approach complements my artistic practice, allowing me to engage with scholars, historians, and fellow artists to deepen my understanding of Persian manuscripts and their artistic significance, while strengthening my global approach to art as a mean for positive social change.

Please support the Persian Manuscripts Association by following our Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn.