Contemporary art is an
important field of creativity that contributes to
local society and global culture, in which it is
essential for Palestinians to represent themselves.
It is a vehicle of expression where individuals
critically engage with a wide range of issues in
many different forms. At IAAP our aim is to provide
our students with the opportunity to gain a solid
foundation in the mediums and methods of working in
the visual arts through our curriculum. At the
Academy you can find local and international artists
and thinkers engaging our students with contemporary
debates and diverse methods of artistic practice.
Owing to the histories of occupation in Palestine,
the visual arts have had a difficult path of
development, particularly in the absence of art
schools, academies and funding. Due to these factors
there is general a lack of understanding of the
important role that art can play in Palestinian
society. Art is a powerful intervention tool that
raises awareness, and develops new knowledge on
social and cultural issues. It creates an arena for
thought via the visualization of ideas. Like any
other field, art needs constant development,
empowerment and mobilization in order to benefit
society. Cultural expression is an important tool in
articulating identity and the Academy aims to
mobilize this potential in the direction of genuine
creative and social development, particularly as the
rich potential for the development of art in
Palestine remains currently untapped.
