In an effort to support Palestinian women financially and to preserve the Palestinian rich heritage Gaza hosted a women’s art exhibition called “Women Entrepreneurs’ where they showcased heritage artworks handicrafts sculptures and art paintings.
About 45 women were given the chance to participate and demonstrate their talents.
In this respect women voiced their hopes of traveling freely to participate in international exhibitions in order to promote the Palestinian heritage to the world.
The gallery was sponsored by the Gaza municipality and was held on Tuesday January 18.
The gallery is part of a larger project aimed at providing employment for women throughout the besieged Gaza Strip.
“The goal of this project is to strengthen women economically while protecting and preserving Palestinian tradition” Nihad Shqliya manager of the Arts Village in Gaza said.
According to Shqliya all the items at the gallery were achieved in 66 working days and they include 260 paintings carvings and embroideries.
“All of the pieces that have been achieved will be gifted to the Gaza Municipality which in turn will present them to their official visitors as a way to educate the world on the Palestinian identity and culture” Shqliya added.
Palestinian artist Khloud al-Aklouq stressed that “this art will serve as our ambassador outside Palestine.”
Another artist Nahil Zaydiah said that the art has intentionally focused on reviving the historic monuments of Gaza such as Al-Omari Mosque the Pasha Palace and the Samra Bath.
For her part Ala Abed said that the women artists were keen on presenting Palestinian embroidery in their work as Palestinian embroidery has recently been added to the UNESCO Cultural Heritage List.
“Art can be considered a soft power that is used to celebrate Palestinian identity in the face of the Israeli military occupation” Abed added.
