Towards an Academic
University Museum
The Ethnographic, Archeological & Art
Collections
Birzeit University owns a number of
significant ethnographic, archeological and art collections.
In recent years, a major project was launched to promote, preserve and document
these collections, especially as they represent an outstanding manifestation of
Palestinian history and cultural tradition. This parallels a growing national
awareness and a historic necessity to register and safeguard the threatened
Palestinian heritage and identity.
This project, which serves as an initial stage towards establishing a University
Museum, is supervised by The Founding Committee for the Preservation of Cultural Heritage.
Founded in 1997, the Committee is composed of a multi-disciplinary group of
faculty and staff in fine arts, anthropology, history, gender studies and
archeology. The chairperson of the Committee assisted by a trained technician is
directly in charge for the upkeep and development of the collections, except for
the archeological collection, which is supervised by the Institute of Archeology
at the University.
Amongst the main objectives of the project is to promote these collections and
to encourage scholarly activities and academic exchange related to them. It also
wishes to advance expertise and develop technical and professional know-how for
the maintenance of these and other collections. The Committee has been seeking
professional advice in every step taken so far.
