Two million Palestinians call the Gaza Strip home, making it one of the world’s most densely populated geographic areas. Palestinians in Gaza have been living in an open-air prison environment since 2007, as Israel has denied them free access to the remainder of the Occupied territory or anywhere else in the world. Restrictions imposed by Israel affect water supply, power supply, food access, and continue to further the collapse of the economy, with unemployment reaching 52% in 2018. Despite the collective punishment imposed on the civilian population of Gaza, Gazans continue an unprecedented resilience through embracing “Existence is Resistance.”
As an overwhelming response to the need for young artists in Gaza to have a voice, Dar al-Kalima’s Gaza Training Center was opened in 2020 to empower potential artists in Gaza through professional training and providing opportunities for greater exposure through local and international venues. The venue supports individuals through training in specialized art courses and aims to improve the artists’ livelihoods by creating networks and opportunities to exhibit and market their productions.
Since its opening, Dar al-Kalima’s Gaza Training Center has hosted several exhibitions and events featuring the works of the students in the areas of video, photography, and fine art. From art competitions to civic engagement trainings, these events have served to promote the role of artists as members of civil society. Dar al-Kalima’s Gaza Training Center assembled a team of students that organized and coordinated activities for more than 800 young children to promote art as a means of expression. As a response to the recent escalation of violence in May 2021 where Gazans were subjected to Israeli airstrikes, Dar al-Kalima’s Gaza Training Center worked to be part of the recovery efforts, offering art therapy to children, families and the artists. Dar al-Kalima’s Gaza Training Center has also facilitated the sale of the artists’ pieces from Gaza, with plans to launch a marketing and sales website in the coming future.
