In August 2024, following a government tender to establish Israel’s first Arab museum, the management of the Umm el-Fahem Gallery decided to expand its activities by creating a Center for Knowledge and Research – the first of its kind dedicated to Palestinian art in Israel.

The Center aims to address the lack of information and research on Palestinian art, foster an open and mutually inspiring research environment, and lead initiatives to develop and expand scholarly activity in this field.

By nature, a center for Knowledge is a dynamic institution in continuous development, and its establishment requires years of comprehensive, methodical work. Over the past year, a team of researchers has been building the Center’s research infrastructure. Currently, this work focuses on artists from the Museum’s collection, with plans to expand to include additional artists in the future.

The center for Knowledge collects and maps a wide range of materials, which are then sorted, cataloged, and systematically documented in Arabic, Hebrew, and English. These materials will be accessible to the public via a digital platform, as well as through a reading room at the museum. The Center is designed to serve the general public, students, and researchers, while also acting as a hub connecting to local and international databases.

We are excited to offer an initial glimpse of the work happening behind the scenes, and invite everyone interested in exploring this field to visit the Museum’s Knowledge Center and engage with the wealth of activities already on offer.