
About Us

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 Barakat Trust is an international non-political, non-religious, non-sectarian and independent charity based in the United Kingdom.
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.
Trustees
Projects
Athr Gallery
We would like to Thank Athr Gallery for all its support of the Barakat Trust and for donating art works by Ahmed Mater, Saddiq Wassil and Maha Malluh amongst others.
Haji Husein Alireza & Co
'Celebrating The Barakat Trust’s 25th Anniversary', Sponsored by Haji Hussein Alireza and Aston Martin The Barakat Trust marked 25 years of supporting the study and conservation of the material and visual culture of Islamic Heritage. The benefit dinner took place in the presence of Barakat Friends, trustees and supporters and [...]
Aston Martin
Aston Martin Profile 'Celebrating The Barakat Trust’s 25th Anniversary', Sponsored by Haji Hussein Alireza and Aston Martin The Barakat Trust marked 25 years of supporting the study and conservation of the material and [...]
Now Hiring! New Director
We are looking for a dynamic, professional Director for an exciting new position at The Barakat Trust, to lead the charity to new heights. This a new and exciting position for The Barakat Trust, the new Director will play a key role in leading the organisation into a new phase [...]
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 »
Arab News
Arab News has consistently featured the growth and evolution of the Barakat Trust from its early years to the present day. More »
Arab London
Barakat Culture Vulture Kids Camp was featured in Arab London. More »
Grantee Profile
Yasmin Kathrada
Country of origin India University Prince of Wales Institute of Architecture, VITA Course Visual Islamic & Traditional Arts Depts Grant issued 2011 Area of interest Kufic calligraphy and hand etched glass Profile Yasmin Kathrada was born in Gloucester, UK. An artist of Islamic origins, YK uses traditional Islamic materials, methods [...]
Mehreen Chida-Razvi
Country of origin Pakistan University SOAS Course 2014 Grant issued Travel Grant Area of interest Jahanghir's funerary Complex in Lahore and comparative research Profile An Art Historian specialising in the arts, architecture and material culture of the Islamic World and Mughal South Asia. Taught courses on the art and material [...]
The British Museum
Country of origin UK University Conservation Course Conservation Internship Grant issued 2010 Area of interest Barakat Trust conservation internship at the British Museum Profile
Ali Omar Ermes
Country of origin Libya University Central School of Art Course 1991 Grant issued Exhibition Area of interest Art Exhibition at Ashmolean Museum, Oxford University Profile Ali Omar Ermes is an artist, writer and community activist. Having spent a period in Libya during which he wrote constantly and published in Arabic [...]
Media
News
Art & Patronage – The Middle East by Thames & Hudson
The Barakat Trust was featured in 'Art & Patronage The Middle East' published by Thames & Hudson. More »
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 »