Museum of the Palestinian People

       "The idea for The Museum of the Palestinian People originated from a paradoxical sense of inspiration and loss. As the Museum’s founder, I was thrilled by America’s capital city. I visited the parks and monuments, and spent hours in the museums, learning about America through the stories of its citizens who had come here from all over the world. Yet this new view of America left me with an unexpected feeling of loss and invisibility. There was no place here for me to tell my story, the human story of Palestine. There was no place for Americans to learn about the country I know. I felt certain that many members of the Palestinian Diaspora shared those feelings. And from that overwhelming sense of the need for Palestinians to share stories with one another, and with the American people, came my determination to create that space: The Museum of the Palestinian People in Washington DC" Bshara Nassar

The past two years have been groundbreaking for many who participated in our diverse activities in preparation for establishing The Museum of the Palestinian People. They include concerts, play readings, exhibitions of original art, and storytelling events in public spaces, schools and churches. Responses to these activities have been warm, enthusiastic, and curious to learn more.

What is our vision?

Our deep intention is to conceive of the museum as interactive and dynamic, one whose content evolves over time. There has been enormous feedback that influenced our vision:

• We celebrate the culture and people of Palestine. Ours is a culture that evolved and thrived over centuries
• We are showing Palestinians as heroes of their stories – focusing on the resilience of the Palestinian people in the face of oppression
• We are telling an authentic story of everyday (occupied) life – from the perspective of Palestinians in Palestine and the diaspora.

How are we doing it?

As we build momentum to create a full-fledged museum, a 21st-century museum in Washington DC, we plan to develop public spaces for gatherings. These gatherings make it possible to engage in stimulating, honest and heartfelt conversations about the Palestinian people, past and present. A museum beyond Physical walls where it exist where the hard conversation begins.

We launched a new exhibition Bethlehem Beyond the Wall (https://mpp-dc.org/bethlehem-beyond-wall/), the first exhibition we have created under this new mission. 11,700 people passed through this exhibit in Nazaerth College. 

P.S Thanks to Dr. Mary Panzer, who curated Bethlehem Beyond the Wall. She is a recognized scholar of photography and cultural history. From 1992-2000 she served as Curator of Photographs at the National Portrait Gallery/Smithsonian Institution.

What can I do?

This vision exists in partnership with people like you!

The Museum of the Palestinian People has an amazing opportunity thanks to a generous donor. Any financial gift received by the end of November will be matched up to $25,000.