The Jameel Prize is an international award for contemporary art and design inspired by Islamic tradition. Its aim is to explore the relationship between Islamic traditions of art, craft and design and contemporary work as part of a wider debate about Islamic culture and its role today.
The V&A houses one of the world's great collections of Islamic art from the Middle East. We began to collect art from the Islamic world in the 1850s, and were the first institution in the world to do so with a purpose. This can be seen at its best in the splendid Jameel Gallery of Islamic Art.
The past achievements of the Islamic world in art, craft and design are reflected in the work of many contemporary practitioners.
The Jameel Prize, worth £25,000, was first awarded in 2009 and is held every two years. Work by the finalists is shown in an international touring exhibition. Both the Prize and the exhibition are organised by the V&A in partnership with Art Jameel.