A Permanent Home for Palestinian Art in the Heart of Edinburgh
In a landmark moment for Palestinian cultural advocacy, the Palestine Museum US has announced the opening of its first international branch in Edinburgh, Scotland. Slated to open on 17 May, the new institution will be the first museum in Europe solely dedicated to contemporary Palestinian art.
Timed to coincide with the 77th anniversary of the Nakba, the opening carries deep historical resonance. The Nakba—“catastrophe” in Arabic—marks the mass displacement of nearly one million Palestinians during the 1948 establishment of the State of Israel.
Located at 13A Dundas Street, a prestigious gallery corridor in Edinburgh’s New Town, the new museum aims to amplify Palestinian voices through a wide-ranging cultural programme. Visitors can expect exhibitions, performances, and educational events that explore themes such as exile, resistance, identity, and heritage.
“No day passes without us hearing about cancelled Palestinian exhibits and cultural events,” said Faisal Saleh, Executive Director of the Palestine Museum US. “It is time we had our own hardened, non-cancellable venues, and we could not have found a better place than 13A Dundas Street in Edinburgh.”
Saleh added that the location is “the best art address in town,” sharing the street with several prestigious galleries and creative institutions.
A Star-Studded Fundraiser to Launch the New Space
Ahead of its formal opening, the Edinburgh branch will host a special fundraising event on 1 May, featuring a vibrant lineup of Palestinian artists from around the world:
-
Samia Halaby – pioneering Palestinian-American visual artist
-
Saja Kilani – actress and spoken word performer
-
Nada Shawa – dancer and poet
-
Zeina Barhoum – internationally acclaimed soprano, delivering the event’s opening musical performance
The fundraiser is expected to draw a large audience from across the Scottish arts and diaspora communities.
Building a Platform for Cultural Resilience
The expansion comes as Palestinian cultural institutions face mounting challenges worldwide—from exhibit cancellations to increasing restrictions in public discourse. The new Edinburgh site aims to provide a permanent, independent platform immune to the political volatility that often shadows Palestinian expression in public and institutional spaces.
The Palestine Museum US, headquartered in Woodbridge, Connecticut, has played a significant role since its founding in 2018 in showcasing Palestinian contemporary art and storytelling through an international lens. Its Scottish branch is expected to serve as a European hub for exhibitions, academic exchange, and diaspora engagement.
With a rotating programme of exhibitions and events, the Edinburgh venue promises to be a dynamic cultural space—connecting artists, scholars, and general audiences to the breadth and complexity of Palestinian life and creativity.
