the palestinian museum releases program for 2017 and 2018

the palestinian museum has announced its program for 2017 and 2018, comprising five major exhibitions, the launch of its online platform, the start of its digital archive, and a range of educational workshops, research projects, and conferences. designed by heneghan peng architects, the building — photographed here by iwan baan — opened without exhibits in 2016 and has remained empty since. the institution’s inaugural exhibition will open to the public in september 2017.

UPDATE: heneghan peng architects won the ‘culture – completed buildings award’ for the palestinian museum at the 2017 world architecture festival.

the museum building has been designed by heneghan peng architects
image by iwan baan © the palestinian museum (also main image)

located in birzeit, 25 kilometers north of jerusalem, the palestinian museum and its program have been developed around a number of key principles — including the exploration of important milestones in palestinian history, culture, and society. clad in a local limestone, the structure emerges from the landscape to offer sweeping views across its surroundings.

the structure opened without exhibits in 2016 and has remained empty since
image by iwan baan © the palestinian museum

created by field stone walls, a series of cascading terraces surround the building, drawing upon the region’s agricultural heritage. ‘the cascade of terraces tells a diversity of stories, citrus brought in through trade routes, native aromatic herbs, a rich and varied landscape with connections east and west,’ explain heneghan peng architects.

the institution is located in birzeit, 25 kilometers north of jerusalem
image by iwan baan © the palestinian museum

opening in september 2017, the museum’s inaugural exhibition — curated by reem fadda — will present a critical reading of the representations of jerusalem as a global city. the multidisciplinary display will present multiple artist commissions alongside programs developed with different institutions and collectives.

the museum explores important milestones in palestinian history, culture, and society
image by iwan baan © the palestinian museum

two months later, the second exhibit will be launched on the centennial of the balfour declaration, and aims to shed light on the various aspects of the palestinians’ resistance against the landmark communication. two further exhibitions will be held in the second half of 2018.

the building is clad in a local limestone
image by iwan baan © the palestinian museum

in april 2017, the institution will launch an interactive online timeline that will span the history of palestine from pre-history until today. the museum will also begin work on its digital archive, which will collect, preserve, digitize, and provide free access to documents, photographs, and films deemed at risk. the museum will run an extensive educational program alongside its exhibitions, and plans to develop a number of smaller initiatives to encourage young palestinian artists and curators.

the museum’s inaugural exhibition will open to the public in september 2017
image by iwan baan © the palestinian museum