Dar Yusuf Nasri Jacir for Art and Research facts for kids
The Dar Yusuf Nasri Jacir for Art and Research (Arabic: دار يوسف نصري جاسر للفنون والبحوث) is a special place in Bethlehem where people can explore art, learn new things, and share ideas. It's also involved in cultural and agricultural projects. The center was started in 2014 by Emily Jacir, with Annemarie Jacir and Yusuf Nasri Jacir as co-founders. It's located in their family's old home, which was built in the late 1880s by al Mukhtar Yusuf Jacir. Emily Jacir and Aline Khoury work together to lead the center.
Where is Dar Jacir?
The Dar Yusuf Nasri Jacir center is located near Bethlehem in the West Bank. It's close to El Khalil Road, which is an important road connecting Hebron and Jerusalem. Not far from the center, about 600 feet away, you can find the Separation Wall and the site of Rachel's Tomb.
What Happens at Dar Jacir?
Dar Jacir is a lively place for artists, writers, musicians, and researchers who visit the West Bank. Since it opened, many international artists have stayed there. These include the Cuban-American artist Coco Fusco, the British-Palestinian novelist Isabella Hammad, and the American-Chilean composer Nicolas Jaar. Other artists like Michael Rakowitz, Trevor Paglen, and Sam Durant have also participated in its special residency program, which began in 2018. This program allows artists to live and work at the center for a period of time.
An Event at the Center
In 2021, the field next to the center was damaged by fire. A few days later, according to the owners, the center itself experienced an incident where some items were taken. The owners reported that phones, computers, hard drives, cameras, and books were taken. Damage also occurred inside the building. This report has not yet been officially confirmed by others.
Helping Dar Jacir
After the incident, people started an online fundraising campaign to help the center. They wanted to raise money to fix any damage and replace the items that were taken. In just two days, they managed to raise $25,000! By June 2021, this amount grew to $30,000. The goal is to raise $50,000 to help restore the Urban Farm on the property and make sure the center can continue its important activities in the future.
