Dar al Kalima Training Center: Gaza's only art academy rebuilds amid war

Students at Gaza's sole accredited fine arts institution, the Dar al Kalima Training Center, are transforming shattered glass from bombed structures into stunning stained-glass dove creations. Founded by Lutheran priest Mitri Raheb, the academy currently operates from a private residence following damage from Israeli airstrikes. Originally established as a satellite of Dar al Kalima College in Bethlehem in 1995, it began in 2019 when 200 aspiring artists from Gaza reached out to Raheb. The center officially opened in March 2020 and has maintained workshops despite ongoing airstrikes. A new initiative seeks to promote young artists on an international stage. While exporting art faces hurdles due to the blockade, some pieces make it to the West Bank. The college is actively fundraising for tuition and providing community workshops.