The Barakat Trust was founded as a UK charity in 1987 and operates for educational and heritage purposes, providing scholarships and grants for study and research projects at the world's most respected academic and cultural institutions at post-graduate and post-doctoral level amongst other initiatives. The aims of the charity are;
a) Intellectual Excellence; support, nurture and promote study and scholarship of Islamic art history, architecture and archaeology.
b) Preservation of Heritage; conserve the material culture of the Islamic world and elevate the level of curation and skills in conservation. To further make the material culture of the Islamic world more accessible through digital and other means.
c) Create Awareness; provide a platform for cross cultural understanding and tolerance across the world by promoting the findings, research and project outputs and study of Islamic culture.
d) Sustainable growth & development; develop effective long terms partnerships and sustain current and future aims of the trust.
For fourteen centuries, the art and architecture of the Islamic world has represented a pinnacle of achievement for some of the greatest civilizations 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.
Abir Tuqan, was born in Jaffa, Palestine and educated initially in Switzerland & later England. A member of Middle Temple, Inns of Court School of Law, London, Tuqan was called to the Bar in 1973 and later specialized in Islamic Law at the School of Oriental & African Studies (SOAS), London University. Tuqan practiced Civil Law in London and Commercial Law in Kuwait after marrying in 1975. Whilst living and working in Kuwait she was one of the early members of Al Sadu, an association for the preservation of local culture & weaving. In the late 1970s Tuqan was closely involved with the Script writer Franco Solinas & director Costa Gavras to develop the idea & production of a major international film on the Palestinian Israeli conflict. The film, Hanna K was first inaugurated at the Venice Film Festival in September 1983. She continues to be interested in all matters relating to Palestine and is passionate about art and culture. Tuqan brings extensive experience as an advisor and trustee, having been a member of the Board of the Council of Anglo Arab Understanding (CAABU), the Arab British Centre, and the Jordan River Foundation. Most recently Tuqan continues to be actively involved with the Spafford Children Centre and as a member of the Board of Patrons of Art Dubai, brings a great deal of expertise to the Barakat Trust, for which she has actively assisted in a number of fund raising events in London.
Born in Alexandria, Egypt, in 1943, Dr. Ahmed Moustafa is an artist and scholar of international rep...
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Harpers Bazaar Arabia featuring Barakat Trustee
Abir Dajani Tuqan takes Bazaar on a journey through a rich and textured life that includes an enviable collection of fashion moments More »
Art & Patronage - The Middle East by Thames & Hudson
The Barakat Trust was featured in 'Art & Patronage The Middle East' published by Thames & Hudson. More »
Barakat Culture Vulture Kids Camp was featured in Arab London. More »
Arab News
Arab News has consistently featured the growth and evolution of the Barakat Trust from its early years to the present day. More »
The Wells of Memory
One of the first travelers in a century to walk through the Hejaz desert of Saudi Arabia, Paul Salopek encounters a fabled past of caravans and pilgrims, of empires come and gone. He encounters cultural preservationists including trustees of The Barakat Trust. More »
The Barakat Trust's Grants 2018 Open for Applications
date: 3 January - 31 March 2018
The Barakat Trust's Grant applications for 2018 opened on 3 January 2018 and closes on 31 March 2018...... More »From Cairo to Aleppo: exploring the photographic archive of K.A.C Creswell
date: Friday 23 March 2018
Join us for an in-depth exploration of a unique archive of Middle Eastern topographical photographs ...... More »Culture in Crisis: From Cairo to Aleppo; exploring the photographic archive of K.A.C Creswell
date: Friday, 3 November 2017
An in-depth exploration of a unique archive of Middle Eastern topographical photographs dating from ...... More »Barakat 30th Anniversary
date: Thurs 5th Oct 2017
Since 1987 The Barakat Trust, with the help of its supporters, has raised and distributed funds for ...... More »