1998 - The First Workshops

The first six workshops on ‘Introductory Photography’ were conducted between July and November 1998 at Al –Ma’mal’s partner institutes. At this stage, photography was the obvious first step. Its familiarity made it the most easily accessible art form and perhaps ironically, it was the form that had most dictated the Palestinian narrative in the international media.

The young participants were supplied with cameras, film, darkroom facilities, photographic material, books and a photo archive and were then trained in both technique and aesthetics. The main purpose of the workshops was to provide individuals from Jerusalem and the vicinity with an opportunity to engage creatively and explore alternative means of self-expression. Undergoing this process in an environment conducive to group interaction, cooperation, mutual understanding and tolerance was another potential and far-reaching benefit.

Project Director, Rula Halawani taught at the Mount of Olives Youth Club and the East Jerusalem YMCA, Awad Awad taught at the Silwan Youth Club and Shufat Camp, Noel Jabbour at the Arab Orthodox Society Club and Amer Derbas at the Old City Youth Club.

The official opening of Al-Ma’mal took place in the evening of January 30th 1999. The opening event was an exhibition of photographic works by 47 trainees who had participated in Al-Ma’mal’s first six workshops. Around the corner in Anadiel was an exhibition of work by several well known Palestinian artists and photographers. The two exhibitions brought the young photographers and the established artists together and many visitors walked from one show to the other. In the normally silent darkness of the Old City at night, this was a very unusual scene.