With immense excitement, I announce the historic moment when the Umm el-Fahem Art Gallery received official recognition from the Ministry of Culture and Sports as the first Arab museum in the country. This has been a challenging and fascinating journey, following a dream that goes back more than 30 years.

Unfortunately, this news and the realization of the dream come in the midst of a brutal and relentless war, which no one knows when it will end, and it manages to take away the sense of security and hope from many of us. However, the future museum will have great power to strengthen our ranks and initiate processes of shared creation and activity, serving as a broad multicultural meeting point necessary for creating a quality dialogue based on empathy, respect, and mutual recognition. Additionally, it will be a home for Palestinian, Israeli, and international art alike.

Today, we want to thank everyone who has worked and contributed to the promotion and strengthening of the gallery. Thanks to you, we met the tender conditions and earned the respect and appreciation of the judging panel, which decided to elevate the gallery to this esteemed status.

Thank you for everything you are and everything you represent.

With prayers and hopes for better days,

Said Abu Shakra