Hands On: The Wallace Collection

become a member

With Barakat Trust support, the Wallace Collection expanded its much-loved Hands on Armour programme to include non-European objects for the first time, enabling young visitors to explore the rich artistic heritage of Islamic arms and armour. This interactive, family-friendly programme now features objects from the Middle East and Asia, enhancing understanding of Islamic contributions to the history of craftsmanship and warfare.

Additionally, the Wallace Collection’s Islamic Patterns schools programme has provided hundreds of secondary school students with the opportunity to study Islamic art through hands-on sessions. Guided by artists trained in Islamic geometric design, students analyse objects in the collection before creating their own tessellated artworks inspired by Islamic patterns.

The project also included Continuing Professional Development (CPD) sessions for teachers, encouraging educators to integrate Islamic art into their teaching. All educational resources have been made freely available online.

With overwhelmingly positive feedback from students and teachers, this project exemplifies how UK collections can engage young audiences with Islamic heritage in creative and lasting ways.

Explore more

more Hands On Islamic Art projects

Hands On Islamic Art
Hands On: Salaam for Schools

The Salaam for Schools project, led by Rizwan Iqbal and delivered by Salaam Festival CIC, is using Islamic art to foster understanding, creativity, and a sense of belonging among students in the UK. Supported b

view project
Hands On Islamic Art
Hands On: The Mingana Collection and the MIAH Foundation

The MIAH Foundation’s project, supported by The Barakat Trust, explores Islamic art and history through an engaging public programme that bridges UK-based collections with local communities. Building on the s

view project
Hands On Islamic Art
Hands On: Kettle's Yard

Kettle’s Yard’s Material Power project brings together the arts, heritage, and community engagement through a four-month residency focused on Palestinian embroidery (Tatreez) in Cambridge. Partnerin

view project
Hands On Islamic Art
Hands On: Tate St Ives

Tate St Ives’ landmark exhibition on the Casablanca Art School marks the first major UK exploration of Morocco’s postcolonial avant-garde art movement. Supported by The Barakat Trust, the project focuses on

view project
Hands On Islamic Art
Hands On: The Tatreez Collective and the Arab British Centre

Led by the Arab British Centre in partnership with the Tatreez Collective, Stitching Forests invites participants from across the UK to contribute to a collaborative artwork celebrating Palestinian embroidery (

view project
Hands On Islamic Art
Hands On: The Fitzwilliam Museum

Despite housing exceptional collections of Islamic art, Cambridge’s museums and colleges have lacked curatorial expertise in the field. Dr. Mariam Rosser-Owen’s project, supported by The Barakat Trust, brin

view project
Hands On Islamic Art
Hands On: Leighton House and The Arab British Centre

Kheit, meaning “thread” in Arabic, was a collaborative exhibition and community project led by textile artist Nour Hage at Leighton House, supported by The Barakat Trust. The project responded to the museum

view project
Hands On Islamic Art
Hands On: The Stafford Mihrab

The Stafford Mihrab is a collaborative community arts commission that The Barakat Trust played a role in as funder, advisor, and facilitator. The project derives from the development of a new mosque and communi

view project
all projects