The Barakat Trust

Who we are

The Barakat Trust is a UK registered charity established in 1987.  Its charitable objectives are:

“1) The advancement, improvement, development and maintenance of education in, and the appreciation of, Islamic art by any means the trustees see fit, including through the award of educational grants and the funding of publications and exhibitions

2) Such other charitable purpose or purposes as the trustees in their absolute discretion shall think fit”

For fourteen centuries, the art and architecture of the Islamic world has represented a pinnacle of achievement for some of the greatest civilisations in history. In recent years there has been deliberate destruction of cultural heritage and looting of art and antiquities in the Levant regions in Iraq, Syria, Libya and beyond, which has been branded "a form of cultural cleansing" by UNESCO Director-General Irina Bokova.

In light of the current socio-political climate, there is a pressing need for the arts and culture of the Islamic World to be nurtured through scholarship and study programmes, preserved through elevated levels of curation and conservation, better understood through wider access and digital platforms creating long term growth and sustainability through a range of creative initiatives including the 'curated culture' programme aimed at adults and families.

The Barakat Trust operates exclusively for educational purposes, providing financial support for the study and research of the material and visual cultures of Islamic societies, scholarships and grants in Islamic art, history, architecture and archaeology, at the world's most respected academic and cultural institutions at post-graduate and post-doctoral level. Exhibitions, lectures, conferences, archaeological excavations, conservation projects, surveys and documentation, travel grants and scholarly publications are supported by The Barakat Trust.

Our Vision

The vision of The Barakat Trust is:

“A world in which the artistic heritage and culture of the Muslim world is fully appreciated and is a vehicle for cross-cultural understanding”

Our Mission

The Barakat Trust is committed to:

“Supporting and promoting the preservation and study of Islamic art, heritage, architecture and culture for future generations”