Story, Vision & Goals

Khalil Sakakini Cultural Center (KSCC) is one of the most beautiful Palestinian arts and culture organization. Located in Ramallah, KSCC is housed in a renovated building, dating back to the early 20th century, based on traditional Palestinian architecture.

Initially, the center was part of the Ministry of Culture when established in May 1996. Two years later, it became a non-profit non-governmental organization (NGO), independent organization. Since then, the center was named after the Jerusalemite scholar, poet, and nationalist, Khalil Sakakini (1878 – 1953).

Since its establishment, KSCC has played an important role in promoting arts and culture in Palestine, through fostering cultural heritage, creativity, and literary and artistic practices. In its early years, KSCC housed the offices of the late Palestinian poet Mahmoud Darwish, from where he edited the literary review Al Karmel.

Over the past two decades, it has hosted multitude of events including art exhibitions, festivals, performances, concerts, film screenings, and poetry readings. It has gained a strong reputation, locally and nationally, as a vibrant arts and culture organization, especially in the field of visual arts, where the primary focus has been on nurturing new talents.

Today, the center is known as an institution that celebrates art for its capacity to question; to pose alternative ways of thinking, perceiving and viewing; and to accommodate multiple interpretations and ambiguity that foster the values of critique and interpretation.

Create a pluralistic, critical emancipatory culture through research, query, and participation.

Encourage critique and questioning, through visual arts, based on artistic research.

Stimulate literary practices and production.

Offer open space and opportunities for networking between individuals and collectives, in order to encourage cultural and artistic production and to generate income for the Center to help in its sustainability.

Utilize earth as a medium for artistic expression and for researching social, economic, and political issues.