Edinburgh (Scotland). Responding to the dehumanization of the Palestinian people by highlighting their culture and their history by contemporary art … This is the mission of the new Palestine Museum in Edinburgh. Inaugurated on May 17, this museum is a branch of the Palestine Museum installed in Connecticut in the United States, created in 2018 by Faisal Saleh, a Palestinian-American entrepreneur who worked in the edition of Magazines and then in the development of software.
His family and fled Palestine in 1948, his project has a political dimension. He wishes to present a different story on the Palestinians and offer them a platform for permanent expression, while many Palestinian cultural events have recently been canceled in the United States. “We want to show that the Palestinians are not helpless victims, but talented human beings, determined to defend their rights”, Explain to Jda Faisal Saleh.
Haya Ka’abneh, Spring Mourning (Printemps mourning), acrylic on canvas exhibited in the Palestine Museum in Edinburgh.
© Palestine Museum
After considering London then Dublin, Faisal Saleh chose Edinburgh as the first European antenna, in particular for the commitment of certain local communities in favor of Palestine.
Cheaper than London, the Scottish capital is also an appropriate place because of its cultural richness and its creative openness. The festival season, in August, gives it an international dimension and attracts more than a million visitors. The museum itself is installed in an old building, located in the historic center of the UNESCO World Heritage City.
The museum extends over a limited area of 100 square meters. The inaugural exhibition, which brings together nearly 35 artists mainly of Palestinian origin, has around 65 works. This set includes paintings of various styles, sculptures, embroidery, textiles and installations addressing themes such as exile, memory and resistance. During the year, the site will also present films, readings of poetry or literature, but also concerts and performances of theater and dance.
Its director general has launched a fundraising to support the operation of the structure. “We are still in the first phaseshe explains. We brought together around 10,000 pounds (11,800 euros) on our annual objective of 100,000 pounds (118,800 euros). »» Faisal Saleh will coordinate the activities of the museum remotely, from Connecticut. On a daily basis, the museum will be managed and led by local volunteers.
British support for the Palestinian cause has accentuated over the months. According to an IPSOS survey of October 2024, three out of five British estimated that the military action of Israel in Gaza, as part of the conflict with Hamas, was going too far. 73 % of respondents also wanted an immediate and unconditional cease-fire between Hamas and Israel.
