Indiana University Will Host Instrument Exhibition

A collection of over 70 musical instruments will go on public display at the McCalla Center starting September 25, 2026.

Updated on Sept. 20, 2026 in World

Indiana University Will Host Instrument Exhibition

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Indiana University will open an exhibition featuring more than 70 unique musical instruments at the McCalla Center on September 25, 2026. The display highlights pieces from the Pastel-Daneshgar collection, which were gathered over three decades.

Why it matters

The exhibition offers a unique look at diverse musical traditions through instruments crafted from materials including wood, snakeskin, horsehair, lambskin, and camel bone. It provides visitors with interactive audio and video stations alongside selections from the Lotus World Music & Arts Festival.

The collection represents over 30 years of acquisition efforts by Shahyar Daneshgar. The exhibition will feature items crafted from rare materials like camel bone and various animal skins.

The players

Shahyar Daneshgar

He is a former teacher at Indiana University who earned his doctorate in Central Eurasian Studies from the institution in 1995.

Indiana University

It is a public research university that is hosting the exhibition of the Pastel-Daneshgar collection at its McCalla Center.

The details

The exhibition, which is free to the public, features remarks from Shahyar Daneshgar during the opening reception. Visitors can explore the collection, which was assembled over three decades, through various multimedia stations.

Shahyar Daneshgar earned a doctorate from Indiana University in 1995.
Shahyar Daneshgar retired from teaching at Indiana University in 2024.
The exhibition opens at the McCalla Center on September 25, 2026.
The exhibition concludes its run in September 2027.

Industry Dynamics

This exhibition aligns with the broader trend of university-led cultural preservation and public engagement with niche ethnographic collections. It mirrors the strategic shift by academic institutions to open specialized archives to the general public to foster community connections.

Bloomington residents can attend the exhibition free of charge beginning September 25, 2026. Visitors will have access to multimedia stations throughout the run of the show at the McCalla Center.

The takeaway

The collection demonstrates how decades of dedicated private study can eventually benefit the public through academic partnerships. Prospective visitors are encouraged to utilize the included audio stations to fully experience the sounds associated with the displayed instruments.