Music and the Arts

Often, when schools face financial constraints, arts and music programs are the first things dropped. For many years, ANERA has recognized that music and arts education are invaluable components of academic instruction. Creative expression has educational and psychological value for people of all ages, serving as a means through which people of varied languages and cultures can communicate and unite in their shared humanity.

ANERA partners with outstanding organizations in the West Bank, Gaza and Lebanon to encourage education and participation in the arts.

West Bank
Our long-time partner the Edward Said National Conservatory of Music is the premier music education institution in the West Bank, teaching students Western or Arab instruments and qualifying them to enter a university-level program. Reaching out to the community and the wider Middle East, the Conservatory engages in music curriculum development, teacher training, seasonal community concerts, the establishment of the first Palestinian national youth orchestra and the first regional Forum of Music Conservatories in the Arab World.

Watch a short clip about the Gaza Music SchoolGaza
ANERA also helped support the establishment of the Music School in Gaza that was subsequently destroyed by the January 2009 bombardment. Another grant was sent and the school was re-established, much to the delight of the devoted students and teachers. In 2010, ANERA safely delivered two brand new pianos to the school (read more).

Lebanon
In Lebanon, ANERA's popular Creative Health Campaign incorporates arts in most of its messaging about healthy living. An important partner in our work there is the Arab Resource Center for the Popular Arts, a national non-profit that promotes conflict resolution, reconciliation and healing through active learning and creative expression. ARCPA has put on theatrical performances at Creative Health festivals, as well as organized community festivals in the Baddawi and Nahr El Bared refugee camps.

Washington
Watch the Rawdat El Zuhur dabkeh dancers at the ANERA Annual Dinner.At ANERA's Annual Dinner and Fundraiser in 2009, some special guests from Jerusalem made the evening extra special. The award-winning dabkeh dance troupe from Rawdat El Zuhur elementary school performed for the 400+ guests. The troupe is made up of 8 talented 9- to 11-year-olds who performed 2 traditional Palestinian folkloric dances.