EL AL | Atmosphere

The Umm el-Fahem Art Gallery is renowned for its exceptional exhibition and promotion of Arab-Israeli & Palestinian art in Israel, and for the strengthening of civic participation and social involvement for Arab and Jewish residents of the Wadi Ara region. The place where art and culture meet to create a better world. An Inspiring Artistic Dialogue: The Umm el-Fahem Art Gallery

Current exhibition of artwork by Lea Dayan at the Umm el-Fahem Art Gallery I Photo by Yigal Pardo

Exhibitions, Seminars, Workshops and Tours

Founded in 1996 by a group of local artists and residents of a traditional Muslim Arab city, the Umm el Fahem Art Gallery, run under the auspices of the Al-Sabar not-for profit organization, is the only Arab institution of its kind in Israel. The initiative to establish an art gallery in the Wadi Ara area was led by Mr. Said Abu-Shakra, a former officer with the Israeli Police Force and the current director of the gallery. Aspiring to bring quality art to Umm el-Fahem, he envisioned a local art institution as a way to build a platform for cultural appreciation, tolerance, and artistic dialogue between Arab and Jewish artists and audiences.

through the mementos, photographs and stories of the Arab families who have lived there for hundreds of years. The gallery has developed an excellent reputation locally and internationally as an important social and cultural space in the Wadi Ara region of Israel – an area which otherwise suffers from high unemployment, poverty and a lack of opportunities. Its activities are supported by donations from foundations and private individuals from around the globe. The gallery maintains close links with other museums in the field, including the Tel Aviv Museum of Art. “The idea of establishing a modern art gallery was from the beginning

With around twenty exhibitions per year, the gallery showcases a wide variety of contemporary international art, including works by Israeli Arab, Israeli Jewish and international artists. The gallery holds numerous seminars, workshops, and tours, which consistently draw large, diverse audiences. It also operates a highly regarded education department, which features art lessons, courses and tours for local children, women’s groups, at-risk youth, visiting artists, and more. In addition, the gallery’s archive is the first body to research and document the rich heritage of the Wadi Ara region