Ian Knowles, Icon painter and founder of Bethlehem’s first icon painting school, talks about the reason why he painted ‘Our Lady Who Brings Down Walls’ onto the separation barrier between Israel and the West Bank.

This is a 1 minute film commissioned by Ian to use on social media to promote his school and raise awareness of the situation in Bethlehem.

Abu Nidal, a woodcarver from Syria talks about his work, and the passion behind what he does. Based in the Jordanian capital, Amman, he is one of a long line of Syrian master craftsmen who were formerly working successfully in their country before the civil war began in 2011. He was introduced to his craft as a child, and will continue to pass on his craft to future generations thanks to support for continuation in his field.

Turquoise Mountain Foundation supports artisans like Abu Nidal in many regions of the world, drawing on ancient craft traditions and supporting artisans to create high-end design pieces for international markets. This film was part of a series commissioned by Turquoise Mountain Foundation.

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’This is Palestine, this is my country,’ says author and collector Widad Kawar. ‘It’s my way against occupation of Palestine.’

In 1948 Widad watched Palestinian women move from their settled lives in the village to refugee camps.

This inspired the young Widad to keep something of their previous culture. Now in her 90s she has the largest collection of Arab textiles and artefacts in the world, and has opened her own museum in the Jordanian capital, Amman.

Mustafa, who specialises in metalworking, talks about his work, and the passion behind what he does. Based in the Jordanian capital, Amman, he is Jordanian working with Syrians who were formerly working successfully in their country before the civil war began in 2011.

He was introduced to his craft as a child, and will continue to pass on his craft to future generations thanks to support for continuation in his field.

Turquoise Mountain Foundation supports artisans like Abu Nidal in many regions of the world, drawing on ancient craft traditions and supporting artisans to create high-end design pieces for international markets. This film was part of a series commissioned by Turquoise Mountain Foundation.

Moataz, who specialises in mother of pearl inlay and carpentry, talks about his work, and the passion behind what he does. Based in the Jordanian capital, Amman, he is one of a long line of Syrian master craftsmen who were formerly working successfully in their country before the civil war began in 2011.

He was introduced to his craft as a child, and will continue to pass on his craft to future generations thanks to support for continuation in his field.

Turquoise Mountain Foundation supports artisans like Abu Nidal in many regions of the world, drawing on ancient craft traditions and supporting artisans to create high-end design pieces for international markets. This film was part of a series commissioned by Turquoise Mountain Foundation.

When British sculptor, Mark Coreth is invited to create a bronze to symbolize Jerusalem and its people, he has a task on his hands.

See where it flies as Mark comes up with an ambitious concept and builds it with the help of local artisans, and his own passion and skill.

The Tree of Hope was commissioned by St John Eye Hospital in Jerusalem, focusing on building bridges through medicine and culture between Israel and Palestine.

Born in 1933 in Palestine, and since 1948 an exile from his homeland, Abdul Hay Mosallam explains how he has turned his passion for Palestine into an unusual art form. He lived for the latter part of his life in the Jordanian capital, Amman, and he reflects on aspects of his life and work there in his studio.

This multimedia film is part of a series to mark the lives of Palestinians who were exiled from their country in 1948 during the 'Nakba' or 'Catastrophe'.

Abdul Hay died in 2020, but his life’s work lives on in galleries across the Arab region and beyond. A colourful retrospective of the Palestinian culture and heritage.

Ian Knowles set up Bethlehem’s first icon painting school 4 years ago. It is an oasis in a sea of despair; and a place where Palestinians and internationals can learn to paint in this ancient medium, and earn a diploma in icon painting.

This film is for fundraising and advocacy for the project – the only one of its kind in the Holy Land.

Darat al Funun, Khalid Shoman Foundation, is a jewel in the Arab world. Overlooking the old city of Amman, Jordan, and built around the site of a Byzantine church, the gallery, research centre and hub for contemporary Arab art offers insight into the ancient civilizations that settled in the city, and the more recent political events that shaped the region.

In the 25th anniversary year of the gallery's opening, its founder, Suha Shoman tells its story, and contemporary Arab artists explain what this inimitable institution has offered to them as artists, and to the regional art scene as a whole.