Palestinian Art Center Shines Light to Revive West Bank Tourism
Photo Caption: An old ottoman home (pictured here) that was renovated in the old city of Jenin, in the West Bank, Palestine, and is now a tourist attraction. A small ottoman flag hangs on the wall. It's called Beit Zaman in Arabic (translates to Home of the Past in English). Yousef Awad
Skift Take
Tucked away in the lively city of Jenin in the West Bank, the Jenin Creative Cultural Center prides itself on offering the perfect blend of local art and culture to welcome visitors. But, being at the heart of the never-ending Middle East peace process, the center has faced difficulties in changing perceptions to attract tourists in a region rife with unrest.
Living under the ongoing threat of regional unrest and economic uncertainty, residents of the Palestinian city of Jenin in the West Bank are turning to their unique cultural identity and taste for the arts to attract tourism and participate in a cultural exchange.
In this mainly agricultural city lies a hidden gem called the Jenin Creative Cultural Centre, which was launched in 2005 in response to Israel’s violent takeover of the Palestinian refugee camp at Jenin in 2002.
The violence at the time was part of Israel’s Operation Defensive Shield, the largest military operation in the West Bank since the 1967 six-day war between Israel, Egypt, Jordan, Syria, and Iraq.
“Today, the camp hosts the Freedom Theater, a symbol of the cultural resistance movement,” said Luisa Corra from Italy, who volunteered at the center to teach English, peace-fostering, and team-building activities.
Jenin is home to more than 250,000 residents and is located in the heart of the West Bank,
