A College of Art and Culture

A letter from Kate Taber serving in Israel/Palestine

August 2016

Warm summer greetings from Bethlehem!

It has been a disjointed summer, what with the different pace of Ramadan, an ongoing Arabic class, partners and friends traveling in and out of the region, and a trip to visit family. It has felt good the past few weeks to settle back into a routine and catch up with some of our mission partners and hear how the Holy Spirit is on the move among them.

In particular, I celebrate alongside partner Dar al Kalima University College of Art and Culture, the only institution of its kind in the Palestinian territories, as they celebrate their 10-year anniversary. For those 10 years Faten Nastas Mitwasi, herself an artist and teacher, has been chairperson of the college’s Visual Arts Department. I recently had the pleasure of talking with her about her department and its students.

“Untitled” by Dar al Kalima graduate Wa’d Allah Manasra. She was born in Bethlehem in 1994 and grew up in Bani Na’im near Hebron. Her artistic talent has shined since her childhood. She participated in the university semester exhibitions and during summer 2015 she participated in an exhibition in Jordan organized by Ibda’ Foundation.

The Visual Arts Department includes three four-year bachelor’s programs: film production, contemporary and fine art, and graphic design. There are also five two-year diplomas: documentary filmmaking, contemporary and fine art, jewelry design and production, glass and ceramics, and art education. The entire department enrolls about 100 students. Graduates go on to join family craft workshops, find employment in factories and media outlets, start their own companies, free-lance, and teach.

Mitwasi described some of the challenges her students face. The political situation imposes travel restrictions on students, making it harder for them to get to classes, gather together, or travel to share or enrich their art. She also emphasized the significance of the economic barriers students face, caused mostly by the political situation, which can make it difficult, if not impossible, for students to afford tuition fees.

Despite the college’s uniqueness and relative youth, Mitwasi asserts its necessity. She emphasized the important role art plays in society. “I believe art is a powerful tool for self-expression and communication. Art reflects identity, expresses feelings, and articulates dreams for the future. It is also important for communicating with one another and the rest of the world, which is especially important for Palestinians.”

In the context of the conflict, Mitwasi explains that Palestinians are isolated from one another and from the rest of the world. The bus ride to Jerusalem from Bethlehem that took 10 minutes in her childhood now requires a permit from Israel, transportation to the checkpoint, the time it takes to walk through the often-crowded checkpoint, then transportation again on the other side into Jerusalem. Of course many Palestinians, including many of the college’s students, do not have access to the permits that would allow them to leave the West Bank.

“Children’s Dreams” by Dar al Kalmia graduate Zahran Hasan Mahmoud. He was born in Jerusalem in 1992 and grew up in Bethlehem. He participated through several multi-media institutions in Palestine and Jordan in inter-cultural activities. As part of his academic studies he trained for a semester at Ma›an News Agency in Bethlehem. His graduation film talks about children’s dreams which remain in the memory and affect their lives. It also shows the collision between reality and dream and how dreams are connected with children’s reality that affects their dreams negatively.

Despite these restrictions the college is investing in new technologies, which offer new opportunities for connection. Mitwasi asserts that development of and education in these technologies is not a luxury, but rather a necessity, for Palestinian society to keep up with the world but also to engage with it. “We can use technology to free ourselves,” Mitwasi says, “With websites, portals, and social media, we can reach out and share art and films. I remember in Gaza after the blockade began, people started organizing international video art festivals. So much is possible now. Physically we are locked, but we do not need to be locked mentally, to be locked in creativity.”

In addition to connection, Mitwasi hopes that the college and its artists might cultivate both diversity and hope in their society. “With the political situation, people are becoming more isolated and restricted. This can result in more closed minds and more despair. Here at the college, we accept Muslims, Christians, people from cities, from villages, from refugee camps. We bring people together who would not otherwise be able to get together. They study together, make art together; some go on to go into business together. We hope this diversity encourages acceptance of and engagement with the other, which they can take into society. Also, we believe that the study, creation, and sharing of art allows for expression, exploration of identity, and dreams for the future. All of this cultivates hope. We want to give hope to our students, and they can reflect this hope in society. We know we can affect our society positively, especially in this time of despair.”

Faten Nastas Mitwasi, chairperson of the Visual Arts Department at Dar al Kalima University College of Art and Culture

Mitwasi has many ideas for how Presbyterians might engage with the college and its students. It is possible to share student films at no cost, electronically, for congregations or groups to screen. If hosting communities pay for shipping, the college could share student art exhibitions. It is even possible that the college might be able to apply for funding to shipping the exhibitions, if congregations were interested. Students might be able to join a screening or exhibition for a conversation about their work by Skype. Some supporters have joined together to raise funds for student scholarships. It costs a student about $1,500 to pay tuition for one year. Of course anyone is invited to visit the college at any time, meet students, and visit student art exhibitions and performances.

I am excited to offer more ways to engage with this ministry. First, Nathan and I are thrilled to share that we are looking forward to welcoming a child into our family, due in mid-December. After a lot of thought and research, it seems best for our family to be in the U.S. for the birth, so in early November I will arrive in Atlanta and stay until several weeks after the birth—with Nathan hopefully joining me in time! During November and early December, I am hoping to do as much engagement with Presbyterians as possible. If your community is in reasonable driving distance of Atlanta and is interested in hearing about this ministry, please be in touch. I also plan to Skype into Sunday schools during this time—as well as anytime beforehand!—so please consider that option as well if I cannot reach you by car. I hope to connect with as many of you as possible this fall and winter! You can reach me at revkatetaber@outlook.com.

I am also glad to share that my call as a mission co-worker has been extended into 2017. I look forward to continuing to share this ministry with you as together we nurture relationships with our mission partners in Israel-Palestine and work to bring peace with justice to all its people. It would not be possible to do so without your prayers, encouragement, involvement, advocacy, and financial gifts, so please continue this vital support as this ministry moves forward.

I look forward to seeing you in Atlanta, Jerusalem, on Skype, or being in touch over email.

May God’s peace surround you.

Kate