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The Gaza Genocide Tapestry | Call for sponsorships
In the face of unspeakable devastation, art becomes a powerful expression when words fall short.
Stitching the Gaza Genocide is a bold, albeit heartbreaking, continuation of the award-winning Palestine History Tapestry (PHT), a collection of 100+ panels which tell the story of Palestine and Palestinians through traditional embroidery (Tatreez).
This new chapter, under the stewardship of Palestine Museum and the new home of the PHT, is set to chronicle through 100 embroidery panels the events of the 2023–2024 genocide in Gaza. It will bear witness to the resilience of a people, the cost of silence and the urgency of global memory.
This is not just embroidery. It is testimony and an indictment of silence in the face of inhumanity.
About the Palestine History Tapestry (PHT)
The PHT has, for over a decade, beautifully illustrated the history and cultural heritage of Palestine as well as the steadfastness of Palestinians under Israeli occupation through traditional embroidery and collaborative artistry. The panels of the Tapestry have been stitched by Palestinian women in the occupied Palestinian territories and refugee camps in neighbouring countries. The Gaza Genocide Tapestry continues this legacy with urgency and clarity, ensuring that the atrocities of our time are recorded in true Palestinian fashion — hand to thread, story to stitch.
Invitation for Sponsorships
We invite you to become a part of this historic undertaking by sponsoring individuals embroidery panels which will make up the Gaza Genocide Tapestry. The names of sponsors will also be stitched on the panels themselves.
Your sponsorship will support the production of the panels by providing financial compensation to the Palestinian women artists and embroiderers and will contribute to memorialising scenes and events of the Gaza genocide for generations to come. At a time when facts are obscured and suffering is politicised, the Gaza Genocide Tapestry offers unflinching documentation, captured by the hands of those who carry its memory.
This is more than art. This is a record for history.
To sponsor or learn more, contact:
Jan Chalmers
Founder, Palestine History Tapestry
[email protected]
Update From Gaza: Steadfast in the Face of Adversity
One of our remarkable volunteers, Mona, exemplifies this spirit. Displaced multiple times within the northern part of Gaza, she has bravely navigated her way through challenging circumstances, always ensuring the safety of the tapestry panels she is working on. Only a few months ago were we able to re-establish contact with her, and she has continued to pour her heart into her work, despite the hardships.
The situation remains arduous, particularly when it comes to sourcing raw materials. Embroidery threads, essential to our work, are becoming increasingly difficult to obtain. Marketplaces are limited and, at times, dangerous to access. This has led to creative solutions, such as altering color choices based on what is available.
Creating art amidst such trials is no small feat. Yet, it is a testament to the steadfastness and resilience of our people. Every stitch in our tapestry is a symbol of endurance, a narrative of strength, and a tribute to the indomitable spirit of our volunteers.
Mona is currently stitching a panel or tile from the floor of the Nativity Church in Bethlehem. Mona and other volunteers are stitching not just a tapestry, but a story of hope, steadfastness, and perseverance.
We would like to invite you all to consider supporting Mona and the project by shopping at our recently launched online store, Mansoja, or by donating directly to the project.
Thank you for your continued support and encouragement.
Products Featured on Mansoja
Introducing Mansoja – The Official Label of the Palestinian History Tapestry
We are thrilled to unveil Mansoja, the official label of the Palestinian History Tapestry (PHT). This exciting new venture brings the Tapestry’s powerful storytelling and breathtaking artistry to life through a unique collection of merchandise.
What is Mansoja?
Mansoja is more than just a label—it’s a celebration of Palestinian heritage and resilience. The name reflects a legacy stitched through time, embodying the spirit of the Palestinian History Tapestry’s mission to preserve and share the rich cultural and historical narratives of Palestine.
Why Mansoja Matters
Every stitch in the Palestinian History Tapestry tells a story, and every Mansoja purchase becomes part of that story. Proceeds from Mansoja sales are reinvested directly into the Palestinian History Tapestry Project. Here’s how your support makes a difference:
- Expanding the Tapestry: Your contributions help create new panels, bringing to life untold stories of Palestinian history and resilience.
- Empowering Palestinian women: Skilled Palestinian women painstakingly craft the PHT panels using traditional embroidery techniques. Mansoja provides them with financial support, offering sustainable livelihoods and preserving a treasured craft.
Shop with Purpose
Each item in the collection features prints inspired by the embroidered panels of the Tapestry or exclusive design, crafted to honour and amplify the beauty of Palestinian culture and history.
By choosing Mansoja, you’re not just buying merchandise—you’re supporting Palestinian artisans and designers and helping preserve Palestinian history and raise global awareness. Available to purchase now in the United Kingdom via our website www.mansoja.com.
Follow Mansoja on social media:
- Instagram: @mansoja.official
- Facebook: @mansoja.official
Thank you for your continued support in keeping Palestine and Palestinians at the forefront.
Jehan Alfarra & Ibraham Muhtadi
Palestinian History Tapestry is now on Bluesky 🦋
PHT has a Bluesky account which can be found here:
https://bsky.app/profile/palestinianhistorytapestry.org
Palestine Museum US and The Palestinian History Tapestry Project Announce Merger
The Palestine Museum US, Woodbridge, CT, USA, and The Palestinian History Tapestry Project (PHT), Oxford, UK, are pleased to announce their merger, allowing PHT to operate under the Museum’s umbrella. This collaboration will provide the Museum with a UK presence and enhance its cultural programming through the integration of PHT’s artistic and heritage content, featuring the history of Palestine.
The current PHT Project Team— Jehan Alfarra, and Ibrahim Muhtadi (co-chairs) and Jan Chalmers (founder) —will continue their operations as usual within the merged organization. The Palestine Museum US will house the collection of embroidery panels at its headquarters in Woodbridge, Connecticut, and will manage its exhibitions at international art events and museums.
The Palestinian History Tapestry, developed over 12 years, is the result of collaborative efforts by the founding team who designed and commissioned unique embroidered panels that document Palestinian history artistically. The intricate stitching was performed by Palestinian women, primarily in refugee camps across Gaza, the West Bank, Jordan, and Lebanon, and in the Naqab.
Jan Chalmers, founder of the PHT Project, is delighted that a home for the Tapestry has been secured.
“We have found a trustworthy partner in the Museum, which can not only maintain this important Palestinian national treasure, but also elevate its global presence.”
Faisal Saleh, founder, and executive director of the Museum, conveyed his gratitude for being chosen as the new home for the Tapestry.
We are excited to collaborate with the PHT Project Team to enhance the Tapestry’s reach and make it accessible to audiences around the world.”
A selection of Tapestry panels will be exhibited in two upcoming Museum exhibits:
- Art of Palestine ‘From the River to the Sea’, P21 Gallery, London, UK, Sep 26 — Dec 21, 2024.
- ‘From Palestine with Art’, Firkin Crane Center, Cork, Ireland, Oct 3 — Dec 15, 2024.
About The Palestinian History Tapestry Project (PHT)
The Palestinian History Tapestry Project, founded in Oxford, UK in 2012, comprises more than 100 panels, and is a thoughtful cultural and artistic representation of Palestinian history and ongoing struggles against displacement, occupation, apartheid and genocide using traditional Palestinian embroidery.
About Palestine Museum US
Palestine Museum US is a leading institution dedicated to promoting Palestinian art, history, and culture. Established in 2018, the museum strives to amplify the voices of Palestinian artists and facilitate dialogue on Palestinian issues. Through exhibitions, educational programs, and community outreach, Palestine Museum US aims to raise global awareness and foster a deeper understanding of the Palestinian experience.