Launched in 2021, the Jerusalem Creative Spaces began by opening the four classrooms of our former teaching centre in the back office for the arts through an open call recognising the lack of artists and studio spaces for Palestinian artists in the city. Since then, what started as a pilot has grown into an arts residency programme that offers access to a space that welcomes artists, collectives and arts organisations, supports their artistic production, collaboration, and public engagement across all arts disciplines. During the past 3 rounds, we supported 13 projects including 7 Individuals, 3 Collectives, and 2 Organisations across various art forms, engaging 100+ artists and reaching thousands in Jerusalem, the UK and internationally​,

Read more about the previous residencies:  

2021 - 2022 

  1. Bashar Murad – production of video Clip 'Ya Leil' with Palestinian creatives from across Palestine and pre-launch event at the British Council premises in Jerusalem. Bashar performed at Outburst Festival in Belfast in November 2022.  
  2. Riham Ishac: Held Performance in Public Spaces workshop and end of project site-specific performances by workshop participants at the British Council in Jerusalem. 
  3. Al Aliyeh delivered their textile project 'Art for Change' culminating on 'Weave of Ideas' open studio and exhibition at the Jerusalem Creative Spaces.​ 
  4. Contemporary Spaces led by Rawan Sharaf brought together established and emerging artists selected through an open call to discuss in weekly seminars their art practices, the art ecosystem in Palestine, and to bridge the gap between arts education and the arts sector.  

2022 - 2023 

  1.  Khalil Batran and Bilal Khatib: ‘My name is Khalil’ that has opened doors for residency opportunities in France and a Mishkal grant​.  
  2. Ahmad Jubeh and Ramzi Maqdisi: ‘Shagal Mokhak’ (Use your Brain) circus theatre production with multiple shows in Jerusalem, Ramallah, Bethlehem and Larnaca- Cyprus.​ 
  3. Al-Block Collective: published walk-logs, in addition to website launch and presentation at Wonder Cabinet during Sound of Places 2024. 
  4.  Ashtar Muallem: Arabic version of her show Cosmos, Awalem. Presented in Ramallah, Jerusalem, Cairo, with the English edition showcased at Edinburgh Fringe in 2024 which received the Lustrous Award for Unforgettable Shows.​ 
  5.  Eitar Collective, originally participated at Contemporary Spaces, and went on to lead on a project the following year working with participants from Jerusalem and other parts of Palestine through weekly seminars, visiting arts organisations, building a community/collective of artists.​ 

2024 – 2025 

  1. Al Hoash – Conducted a series of seminars in preparation for the Undying Cities exhibition at Al Hoash in October 2024. 
  2. Basta Theatre – Supported the preparation and touring of 63 Days of Sit-In, including performances at Wonder Cabinet in Bethlehem, Spain and Germany. The project also included a video documenting ten years of Basta Theatre, the making of the play, and the company’s methodology. 
  3. Art Market Jerusalem – Delivered training for both emerging and established makers to professionalise their practice, with sessions on brand creation, product development, marketing, storytelling, and visual identity. The programme culminated in a Christmas market and public workshops at Jerusalem Creative Spaces over two days in December 2024. 
  4. Eitar Collective – Took over the space from September 2024 until March 2025, organising six solo exhibitions for six emerging artists: Morgan Ghanayem, Shaima Sheikh Ali, Dalleh Tarabieh, Nadeem Mazen, Noor Jbaren, and Obayda Dahleh. Read more about their journey with us here.
 
Share this