Overall aim: To foster independent, dynamic and creative artistic and cultural expression in contemporary Palestinian society, rooted in Palestinian identity and heritage.

Palestinian society's rich artistic and cultural heritage continues to flourish despite systematic efforts by the Israeli occupation to suppress it. Palestinian contemporary artistic production in the visual, plastic and expressive arts remains dynamic and diverse. Civil society institutions play the primary role in supporting individual and collective artistic production and overall development of the sector. Recent years have witnessed a plethora of artistic and cultural activities developed for children and young people. However, these activities have in large part been designed as crisis interventions to respond to the chronic emergency and to support children who are facing experiences of violence and trauma from the Israeli occupation. Funding has favored support for single or ad hoc recreational activities aimed primarily at providing essential psychological relief through entertainment and/or self-expression.

School programs, already limited, have suffered further cutbacks under the national financial crisis. Emergency conditions have also severely affected NGOs working in the sector with 57% of these NGOs reporting cutbacks in activities due to lack of funds.

Opportunities are relatively few for broader creative exploration and expression and the development of artistic talent amongst children and youth through solid programs providing the necessary continuity, skills development and support. Institutions providing such programs and the broader infrastructure required to support and nurture the sectors' continued development are limited in number and capacity and frequently lack competent management and program staff. Moreover, most cultural activities are focused in the major cities of the central West Bank with significantly fewer opportunities available in other regions in general and in villages, refugee camps and other marginalized communities in particular.