{{Short description|Palestinian museum, located in Birzeit, West Bank, Palestine}} {{pp-extended|small=yes}} {{Promotional|date=April 2025}} {{Use dmy dates|date=February 2021}} {{Infobox museum |name = The Palestinian Museum |native_name = المتحف الفلسطيني |native_name_lang = ar |logo = Palestinian Museum.png |logo_size = 100px |image = The Palestinian Museum.jpg |image_upright = 1.2 |caption = |map_type = |latitude = |former_name = |established = {{Start date and age|df=yes|2016|05|18}} |dissolved = |location = Birzeit, West Bank, Palestine |coordinates = {{Coord|31|57|46.69|N|35|11|0.42|E|region:PS_type:landmark|display=inline,title}} |type = Art and history museum |visitors = |director = Amer Shomali |public_transit = |website = {{URL|palmuseum.org/en}} }}
'''The Palestinian Museum''' is a museum in Birzeit, in the West Bank, Palestine, that was inaugurated on 18 May 2016.<ref name="Minus" /> It is a flagship project of the Welfare Association, a non-profit organization for developing humanitarian projects in Palestine. Representing the history and aspirations of the Palestinian people, the museum aims to discuss the past, present, and future of Palestine.<ref name=akdn>{{Cite web|title=Palestinian Museum – Aga Khan Development Network|website=www.akdn.org|url= https://www.akdn.org/architecture/project/palestinian-museum|access-date=28 August 2019}}</ref>
The museum building is located 25 km north of Jerusalem.<ref name="Minus">{{cite news |last1=Glanz |first1=James |author-link1=James Glanz |last2=Nazzal |first2=Rami |date=May 16, 2016 |title=Palestinian Museum Prepares to Open, Minus Exhibitions |work=New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/05/17/world/middleeast/palestinian-museum-birzeit-west-bank.html?_r=2 |url-status=live |url-access=subscription |access-date=26 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161231062551/https://www.nytimes.com/2016/05/17/world/middleeast/palestinian-museum-birzeit-west-bank.html |archive-date=December 31, 2016}}</ref> The inaugural exhibition, "Jerusalem Lives", was opened on 26 August 2017.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Dyke |first=Joe |date=26 August 2017 |title=Jerusalem the focus of first Palestinian Museum show |url=https://www.yahoo.com/news/jerusalem-focus-first-palestinian-museum-show-183347165.html |url-status= |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170827203625/https://www.yahoo.com/news/jerusalem-focus-first-palestinian-museum-show-183347165.html |archive-date=27 August 2017 |access-date=28 August 2017 |website=Yahoo News}}</ref>
On 29 August 2019, the museum received the Aga Khan Award for Architecture.<ref>{{cite news |title=The Winners of the 2019 Aga Khan Award for Architecture |work= Architectural Record |location= New York City |date= 29 August 2019 |url= https://www.architecturalrecord.com/articles/14252-the-aga-khan-award-for-architecture-for-2019 |access-date=29 August 2019}}</ref>
==Museum without borders== Representing the history and aspirations of the Palestinian people, the Palestinian Museum aims to discuss the past, present, and future of Palestine.<ref name=ReferenceA>{{Cite web|title=Palestinian Museum : Aga Khan Development Network|website=www.akdn.org|url= https://www.akdn.org/architecture/project/palestinian-museum|access-date=28 August 2019}}</ref> The museum's research programs develop knowledge that is relevant inside and outside Palestine.<ref name=ReferenceA/> Through its digital platforms and international partners, the museum aims to connect with about 10 million Palestinians<sup>[5]</sup> scattered around the world, and with all those interested in Palestine.<ref>{{cite web|title=Palestinian Museum Will Link the Past and the Present|last=Hecht|first=Esther|date=|website=Archrecord.construction.com|url= http://archrecord.construction.com/news/2013/06/130614-Palestinian-Museum-Heneghan-Peng-Architects.asp|accessdate=20 May 2016}}</ref>
The museum aims to transcend political and geographical borders, and address the mobility issues due to the Israeli–Palestinian conflict. Through local, regional and international partnerships and affiliate centers, the museum seeks to connect Palestinians worldwide.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://news.artnet.com/art-world/bloodshed-cant-derail-construction-of-palestinian-museum-68526 |title= Bloodshed Can't Derail Construction of Palestinian Museum |date= 29 July 2014|accessdate=20 May 2016 |website=News.artnet.com |publisher= |last= Cascone |first= Sarah }}</ref> With an extensive network of partnerships within the region, it hopes to act as a hub for cultural activity there.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.thenationalnews.com/arts-culture/art/the-palestinian-museum-will-present-a-culture-without-borders-1.304078/ |title= The Palestinian Museum will present a culture without borders |date= June 2013|access-date=20 May 2016 |website=Thenational.ae |publisher = |last= Hatuqa |first= Dalia }}</ref>
==History== The idea of developing a museum was initiated in 1997 by the London-based Welfare Association to commemorate the Nakba, and later developed to a broader viewpoint to documenting<ref>{{cite web|author=Rana Anani |title=Palestinian Museum to Showcase People's History, Culture – Al-Monitor: the Pulse of the Middle East |publisher=Al-Monitor |date=21 April 2013 |url= http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/culture/2013/04/palestinian-museum-history-culture.html |accessdate=20 May 2016}}</ref> Palestinian history, society, art and culture from the beginning of the 19th century.<blockquote>"It is not necessarily to start or stop at the Nakba, but nevertheless to look at Palestinians before that and after that … take that history and that memory as a means to reflect on what's happening today and as a way to think through ideas, concepts and propositions for the future." Jack Persekian, former director of the Palestinian Museum.{{citation needed|date=November 2023}} </blockquote>
In May 2016, it was announced that Mahmoud Hawari would succeed Jack Persekian as director, who was ousted by the board after three and a half years.<ref name=Minus/><ref>{{cite web |title= Mahmoud Hawari appointed new director of long-awaited Palestinian Museum |website= Theartnewspaper.com |date=5 May 2016 |url=http://theartnewspaper.com/news/mahmoud-hawari-appointed-new-director-of-long-awaited-palestinian-museum/ |accessdate=20 May 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160709093022/http://theartnewspaper.com/news/mahmoud-hawari-appointed-new-director-of-long-awaited-palestinian-museum/ |archive-date= 9 July 2016 }}</ref> Writer and academic Dr. Adila Laïdi-Hanieh was appointed as Director General in September 2018.<ref>{{cite web |title= Dr. Adila Laïdi-Hanieh – Director General of the Palestinian Museum |website= PM homepage |date= 2 September 2018 |url= https://www.palmuseum.org/news-1/dr-adila-la-di-hanieh-director-general-of-the-palestinian-museum |access-date= 26 February 2021}}</ref> She developed the first five years programs strategy of the museum, and established two new departments focusing on curating, and on research and knowledge programming.<ref name=MEM>{{cite web |title= New directions for the Palestinian Museum: Interview with director Dr Adila Laïdi Hanieh |website=Middle East Monitor |location= London, UK |date= 26 June 2019 |url= https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20190626-new-directions-for-the-palestinian-museum/ |access-date= 26 February 2021}}</ref> She led the museum's COVID-19 lockdown programming in 2020, that enabled it to increase and continue providing its activities online without interruption, while diversifying its audiences.<ref name=Sekka>{{cite web |author= Vittoria Volgare Detaille |title= Inside the Palestinian Museum |work= Sekka Magazine |location= Abu Dhabi |date= 8 August 2020 |url= https://sekkamag.com/2020/08/08/8260/ |access-date= 26 February 2021}}</ref> In 2022 the museum received a grant from the Aliph Foundation to establish a textile conservation studio – the first in Palestine – in collaboration with the UK's Victoria and Albert Museum.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Di Liscia |first=Valentina |date=2022-03-13 |title=Museums Partner to Establish Palestine’s First Textile Conservation Studio |url=https://hyperallergic.com/museums-partner-to-establish-palestines-first-textile-conservation-studio/ |access-date=2026-01-19 |website=Hyperallergic |language=en}}</ref> On October 3, 2023, the museum board announced interdisciplinary visual artist Amer Shomali as the new General Director.<ref>{{Cite web |date=October 3, 2023 |title=The Palestinian Museum has a new director-general |url=https://english.wafa.ps/Pages/Details/137902 |website=WAFA News Agency}}</ref>
==Architecture== The architectural firm responsible for the building was Heneghan Peng, who designed the Grand Egyptian Museum. The building offers a combination of exhibition spaces, research facilities and classrooms. Through its digital platforms and international partners, the museum seeks to connect with about 10 million Palestinians<sup>[5]</sup> scattered around the world, and with all those interested in Palestine.<ref>{{cite web |last= Hecht |first= Esther |title= Palestinian Museum Will Link the Past and the Present |website= Archrecord.construction.com |url= http://archrecord.construction.com/news/2013/06/130614-Palestinian-Museum-Heneghan-Peng-Architects.asp |access-date= 20 May 2016}}</ref>
The Palestinian Museum is notable as a winner of the 2019 Aga Khan Award for Architecture. When it was shortlisted for the award earlier in the year,<ref name=akdn/> the museum was noted for marrying an aesthetically pleasing design with environmental responsibility.<ref name="auto">{{Cite web|title=The Palestinian Museum on 2019 Shortlist for Aga Khan Award for Architecture|website= PM homepage|date= 25 April 2019|url= http://www.palmuseum.org/the-palestinian-museum-on-2019-shortlist-for-aga-khan-award-for-architecture|access-date=28 August 2019}}</ref>
Located atop a terraced hill, the museum building overlooks the Mediterranean.<ref name="auto1">{{Cite web|title=Three UAE Projects on 2019 shortlist for Aga Khan Award for Architecture|website=gulfnews.com|date=25 April 2019 |url= https://gulfnews.com/uae/three-uae-projects-on-2019-shortlist-for-aga-khan-award-for-architecture-1.1556185885546|access-date=28 August 2019}}</ref> With a design inspired by the surrounding rural landscape, the building integrates seamlessly into its environment.<ref name="auto2">{{Cite web|title=Shortlist for the 2019 Aga Khan Award for Architecture announced|website=Architectural Digest Middle East|url= https://www.admiddleeast.com/shortlist-for-the-2019-aga-khan-award-for-architecture-announced|access-date=28 August 2019}}</ref> The building's facade is made of local limestone<ref name="auto2"/> and its cascading gardens represent the history of Palestinian vegetation and agriculture.<ref name="auto"/>
Builders laid terraces by hand, incorporating artisanal knowledge and skill.<ref name=ReferenceB>{{Cite web|title=Palestinian Museum {{!}} Aga Khan Development Network|website=www.akdn.org|url= https://www.akdn.org/architecture/project/palestinian-museum|access-date=28 August 2019}}</ref> Outdoor garden spaces extend interior spaces to facilitate outdoor exhibitions and blend the building with its environment.<ref name=ReferenceB/> The building's interior contains galleries, educational and research facilities, and administrative offices.<ref name="auto"/>
The museum's sustainable construction earned it LEED Gold certification.<ref name="auto1"/> The building design and operations take sustainability into account.<ref name=ReferenceB/> To reach LEED standards, the builders needed to implement systems control technologies that were new to the area's building industry.<ref name=ReferenceB/>
The museum building is built on nearly ten acres of land donated by Birzeit University near Ramallah, and the cost of the building is estimated at US $24 to $30 million.<ref name=Economist>{{cite news|title=Jack Persekian steps down|publisher=The Economist|date=9 December 2015|url= https://www.economist.com/blogs/prospero/2015/12/palestinian-museum|access-date=17 May 2016}}</ref><ref name=Minus/> Funds were contributed by "over 30 private Palestinian families and institutions", including the A. M. Qattan Foundation, the Bank of Palestine (privately owned), and the Arab Fund for Social and Economic Development.<ref name=Economist/>
The museum was inaugurated by Mahmoud Abbas on 18 May 2016, but it was "plagued by a series of cost overruns and delays", with some blaming Israel Customs authorities for those delays.<ref>{{cite news|title=A museum without exhibits|newspaper=The Economist|date=4 June 2016|url=https://www.economist.com/news/middle-east-and-africa/21699935-people-without-state-museum-without-exhibits|access-date=4 June 2016}}</ref>
== Exhibitions ==
* ''Labour of Love: New Approaches to Palestinian Embroidery'' (2018)<ref>{{Cite web |last=DUNES |date=2022-10-12 |title=The Minister of Culture Inaugurates Labour of Love: Embroidering Palestinian History Exhibition |url=https://www.dunesmagazine.com/post/the-minister-of-culture-inaugurates-labour-of-love-embroidering-palestinian-history-exhibition |access-date=2024-01-15 |website=DUNES |language=en}}</ref> * ''Intimate Terrains'' (2019)<ref>{{Cite web |last=ArtFacts |title=Intimate Terrains :Representations of a Disappearing Landscape {{!}} Exhibition |url=https://artfacts.net/exhibition/intimate-terrains-:representations-of-a-disappearing-landscape/874416 |access-date=2024-01-15 |website=ArtFacts |language=en}}</ref> * ''Glimmer of a Grove Beyond'' (2020)<ref>{{Cite web |last=Dubai |first=Art |title=The Palestinian Museum: transcending borders |url=https://www.artdubai.ae/planetaryfeed_the-palestinian-museum/ |access-date=2024-01-15 |website=Art Dubai |language=en}}</ref> * ''A People by the Sea: Narratives of the Palestinian Coast''<ref>{{Cite web |last=yassin |first=inass |title=inass yassin |url=https://inassyassin.com/lasting-impressions%E2%80%9D-1 |access-date=2024-01-15 |website=inass yassin |language=en-AE}}</ref> In addition, the Palestinian Museum also hosts an online archive featuring 419 collections, 147,453 archival resources, and a total of 363,574 digitized items as of March 2025. The archive contains photographs, illustrations, diaries, maps, films, audio, and other media.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Palestinian Museum Digital Archive - أرشيف المتحف الفلسطيني الرقمي |url=https://palarchive.org/index.php/Front/Index/lang/en_US |access-date=2025-03-04 |website=palarchive.org}}</ref>
== Directors ==
* Jack Persekian (2012/13 - 2016) * Mahmoud Hawari (2016-2018) * Adila Laïdi-Hanieh (2018–23) * Amer Shomali (2023 on)
==See also== {{portal|4 = Visual arts}} * List of museums in the State of Palestine * List of Palestinian artists
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== {{commons category}} * [http://www.palmuseum.org/language/english Official website] * [https://www.artforum.com/print/202106/hanan-toukan-and-adila-laidi-hanieh-on-the-palestinian-museum-85773 Artforum Hanan Toukan and Adila Laïdi-Hanieh on the Palestinian Museum] * {{twitter}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Palestinian Museum}} Category:2016 establishments in Palestine The Palestinian Museum Category:Museums established in 2016 Category:Ramallah and al-Bireh Governorate Category:Birzeit Category:History museums in Palestine Category:Arab citizens of Israel