Alaa’ and Nouran’s journey with the British Council began in 2021 as participants in the Jerusalem Creative Spaces. This British Council initiative provides space and production grants to support artists, collectives, and cultural organisations. In workshops and seminars they met other art graduates and established artists, developing their understanding of the arts sector in Palestine and beyond, as well as their own artistic and cultural practice.
Inspired by this experience, they came to a simple but powerful realisation: ‘We should start a collective to support young creatives like ourselves.’ Seeing a clear gap in Jerusalem’s creative scene, and a need for a dedicated space to support young artists, they founded the Eitar Collective to help emerging artists build their portfolios and pursue meaningful careers in the arts. Motivated by this vision, they applied to Jerusalem Creative Spaces as a collective and were awarded a British Council grant and residency in 2022. Through workshops led by experienced artists, they provided guidance, exposure, and professional development opportunities, creating a supportive space for a new generation of creatives. Their efforts were recognised by the older generation of artists, including prominent Palestinian artist Sliman Mansour, who attended one of their exhibitions and showed his support.
Alongside these workshops, they developed partnerships with institutions across Jerusalem and the West Bank. What began as introductory visits evolved into meaningful knowledge exchange collaborations with established Palestinian institutions such as Khaza’en and Al-Ma’mal. These partnerships enriched their approach and extended the collective’s impact by strengthening the capacity of more emerging artists.
These efforts led to a second residency awarded to Eitar by the British Council. From September 2024 to March 2025, Eitar took over the British Council’s back-office space in Jerusalem, transforming it every two weeks to host a new solo exhibition, the first for each of the six participating artists. This residency was particularly significant, as the team succeeded in presenting a range of visual art forms during the war in Gaza. Despite their initial hesitation because of the war, the residency offered a vital platform for six artists to claim space, share their voices, and present their work in such hard times.
These exhibitions attracted new audiences, started new professional connections, and gave the artists a vital opportunity to present their work in a supportive space. Over the course of the residency, Eitar engaged with more than 700 people in Jerusalem and collaborated with 17 artists, including curators, researchers, and community leaders. They also partnered with eight local arts organisations, deepening their presence within the creative community. As the programme progressed, feedback from audiences and participants grew increasingly positive, reflecting the meaningful impact of their work. Encouraged by this response, Eitar are determined to continue their vital work: ‘We can’t stop. We must keep going, no matter the circumstances.’
‘We can’t stop. We must keep going, no matter the circumstances.’, Eitar