The V&A has specialised in collecting Islamic art since the 1850s, and was the first institution in the world to collect Islamic art as part of a mission to reform British industrial design.
The Museum’s founders considered Islamic art and design to be superior to most Western production, and they acquired examples to guide public taste and to provide models for contemporary manufacturing. The Museum’s collection is reflected in much later design, and through the Jameel Prize the V&A is able to show that Islamic art of the past still provides inspiration today.
The Jameel Prize is also part of the V&A’s programme of activities designed to develop cultural links around the world and promote cultural understanding.
