The Palestinian Museum

The Palestinian Museum, located in Birzeit in the West Bank, was inaugurated on 18 May 2016. It is a flagship project of the Welfare Association, a non-profit organisation supporting humanitarian work in Palestine. The museum explores the history, present, and future of Palestine, reflecting the experiences and aspirations of the Palestinian people.

The museum building is 25 km north of Jerusalem. Its first exhibition, Jerusalem Lives, opened on 26 August 2017. In 2019, it received the Aga Khan Award for Architecture.

The museum aims to overcome political and geographic barriers by connecting with Palestinians worldwide—especially the 10 million living in the diaspora—through digital platforms and international partnerships. It also serves as a cultural hub for the region, with research and curatorial programmes designed to generate knowledge relevant both within and beyond Palestine.

History

The idea for the museum was initiated in 1997 by the London-based Welfare Association, originally to commemorate the Nakba. It later evolved into a broader project documenting Palestinian history, society, art, and culture since the 19th century.

In 2016, Mahmoud Hawari succeeded founding director Jack Persekian. In 2018, writer and academic Dr Adila Laïdi-Hanieh became Director General, developing the museum’s five-year strategy and leading its successful digital adaptation during the COVID-19 lockdown. On 3 October 2023, artist Amer Shomali was appointed General Director.

Designed by Heneghan Peng Architects, who also designed the Grand Egyptian Museum, the building includes exhibition spaces, research facilities, and classrooms. Located on a terraced hill with views of the Mediterranean, its design blends into the landscape with limestone facades and gardens representing Palestinian agriculture. The structure received LEED Gold certification for sustainability and integrates new building technologies for the region.

The nearly 10-acre site was donated by Birzeit University. Construction costs ranged from $24 to $30 million, funded by more than 30 private Palestinian donors and institutions, including the A.M. Qattan Foundation, the Bank of Palestine, and the Arab Fund for Social and Economic Development.

The museum faced delays and budget issues during construction, with some attributing the setbacks to Israeli customs procedures.