About Us

Arabic for art house, Bayt Al Fann is driven by a vision of a vibrant and thriving future for Islamic art, heritage, and culture. We launched the project in November 2021, with the dream to create a global home where artists, creatives, and communities come together and co-create the future of this timeless art.

We welcome everyone, Muslim and non-Muslim alike, to explore the past, present and future of Islamic art, culture and heritage together…

Our Story

Since its inception, Bayt Al Fann has been entirely volunteer-led, with a small dedicated team of individuals working tirelessly to promote and celebrate Islamic art, heritage, and culture. Despite receiving no external funding, we have managed to establish ourselves as a dynamic and influential force within the Islamic arts community, attracting audiences from around the world.

At Bayt Al Fann, we endeavor to inspire and enchant by providing a gateway to the future of Islamic art. So far, we've collaborated with over 300 artists, creatives, and academics through our digital platform, Baytalfann.com. It's been incredible to work with and celebrate so many talented trailblazers at the forefront of exploring Islamic art and culture through their boundless creativity and fearless experimentation.

We believe that the digital age provides us with unprecedented opportunities to safeguard our cultural heritage and make it accessible to a global audience. We're humbled to have gained a following of over 250,000 across our social media in this short time. It's been amazing to see so many people around the world take an interest in Islamic art, culture and heritage and to see our community grow.

Art is a universal language that can connect individuals from all walks of life, and we are honored to be able to share the richness of Islamic art with the world.

Meet The Team

Alia Raffia Ullah

Founder & CEO

Alia is a painter with a love for Islamic art. She has a BA in Heritage Studies, graduating with a first class honours, and Masters in Art Galleries and Museum Studies from the University of Manchester. Alia has over 10 years experience working in world class Museums and Galleries in the UK. She is passionate about the future of Islamic art, heritage and culture and believes digital technology can ensure its preservation and development. Alia found Bayt Al Fann with the intention to connect communities and bring creatives together. She is soon to embark on undertaking a PhD exploring Digital Culture.

Heba Alshehhi

Co-Founder & Strategic Lead

Heba AlShehhi is a contemporary abstract mixed media artist and founder of Hands Art Studio. For Heba, art is a form of creative expression, every brush stroke takes her further and further from all labels of life, until there is only herself. Through experimenting with different paint textures and mediums, she finds a deeper connection within. Heba is an experienced Project Manger and is committed to using her skills and expertise to raise the profile of Islamic art, heritage and culture.

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Ruqqia Badran

Co-Founder, Digital Curator & Editor

Ruqqia is a mixed media and textile artist based in Scotland. In 2006 she received a scholarship to undertake a Masters at the Princes School of Traditional Arts, however due to circumstances was unable to pursue this. In society, women are often primary care givers and will have to leave their professional practice. Ruqqia is passionate about supporting women to be visible and have a voice in the creative industries. Ruqqia continues to create as an artist and has exhibited widely, including at The Whitworth Art Gallery in Manchester. Ruqqia cares about the preservation of the Arabic language and is exploring ways to develop new opportunities for learning.

Steve Devine

With a background in cultural studies, publishing and photography Steve has over 20 years working experience leading digital practice in the UK cultural sector. Steve has taught at The University of Manchester on the Art Galleries & Museum Studies Course and presented at MuseumNext and Museums and the Web.

Hashim Y. A.

Almahfoodh

Hashim is a Bahraini poet, painter, and dramatist. His work focuses on issues of romance, self-development, cultural heritage, and international politics, as well as social justice. Hashim's works are written in Arabic, English, and Turkish, and his writing styles include the classical and free-verse formats of each language.

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Asma Abdellatif

Asmaa Abdellatif is a poet and researcher from Cairo, Egypt, who believes in the power of the word to touch hearts and nurture empathy. She is actively engaged in the poetry community through teaching, writing, researching, and facilitating poetry nights, weaving together worlds of awe and wonder to unravel the depths and beauty of the human experience.

Komal Salman

Komal Salman, the founder of Folkloristan, is a Pakistani visionary whose passion for storytelling and digital art has culminated in a one-of-a-kind platform for the preservation of folklore and heritage. As a skilled digital illustrator, her enchanting artwork transports viewers to a mystical world, where ancient tales come to life.

Mohannad Hussam

Mohannad Hussam, a multidisciplinary synthographer from Amman, creates captivating collage art inspired by Arabic/Islamic identity and biodiversity. His work combines AI-generated elements, 3D/2D designs, calligraphy, and paint overs, embedding Arabic/Islamic intelligence into pop culture. To bridges tradition and contemporary aesthetics, sparking curiosity and celebrating cultural heritage.

Mission & Vision

Mission: Our mission at Bayt Al Fann is to build understanding between cultures and to create a sustainable world while amplifying Islamic art heritage and culture and preserving it for future generations. It's a big mission, but we're passionate about achieving it and making a positive impact in the world.

Vision: Bayt Al Fann envisions a world where the arts are a powerful tool for building bridges between cultures, fostering empathy and understanding, and promoting positive social and environmental change. We aspire to be a leader in the global arts community, recognised for our commitment to excellence, inclusivity, and sustainability.

Our future hopes and aspirations...

To ensure the long-term sustainability and growth of Bayt Al Fann, we are launching a membership scheme to transition to a community-led initiative. By becoming a member of Bayt Al Fann, individuals will have the opportunity to support our work, while also gaining access to a range of benefits, such as exclusive events, networking opportunities, and early access to exhibitions.

This new membership scheme represents an exciting new chapter in our history, as we seek to engage and empower our community of supporters to help shape the future of Islamic art and culture.

Through the support of our members, we will continue our efforts to amplify the voices of artists and creatives from communities around the world, sharing their unique perspectives and inspiring new audiences to engage with the beauty and diversity of Islamic art and culture – past, present and future.

If you believe in our vision, mission and future aspirations, please subscribe to our membership and be a part of developing Islamic art, heritage and culture for the future. Thanks for joining us on this journey – we love our Bayt Al Fann family and couldn’t achieve this without you!

Become a Member