Palestinian Cultural Exhibition to start Saturday

AMMAN — The annual Palestinian Cultural Exhibition starts on Saturday at the Association of Jordanian Contractors in Amman.

The three-day exhibition, organised by the Palestinian Cultural Centre, aims to “reaffirm the Palestinian national identity and support education and families”, according to a statement by the organisers.

The exhibition will feature a variety of artistic works including a large collection of traditional cross-stitch embroidery, pottery from Hebron, books about Palestine in English and Arabic and posters.

Around 500 women living in Palestinian refugee camps produced the embroidery, which often features traditional nature imagery, the statement said. 

“This year continued to be an active year for the centre due to the effects of the global financial crisis, which placed a further strain on the poor,” the statement added. 

“Violent and aggressive Israeli military onslaught” in occupied Palestine increased the urgent need for aid. 

Additional highlights of the exhibition will include traditional Palestinian food and a folkloric “dabkeh” dance at 5:30pm each afternoon.

The Palestinian Cultural Centre is a nonprofit organisation established in Jordan in 1991.

It strives to preserve Palestine’s heritage and culture, to help families in the Palestinian refugee camps become economically independent and to sustain vulnerable Palestinians in their homeland and outside, according to the statement.

In addition to helping women in the refugee camps earn an income from their art, the centre’s initiatives include providing financial aid and healthcare to vulnerable families, in addition to university scholarships to Palestinians.