Towards an Academic University Museum
Exhibition
Space
Birzeit University's Ethnographic, Archeological & Art Collections
The Founding Committee for the Preservation of Cultural Heritage
Events
Tayseer Barakat
Sliman Mansour
The Ethnographic Collections Room
This room which was inaugurated in 1998, is set on the second floor of Alghanim Library. It is equipped with museum-quality cabinets, proper lighting and a controlled environment. It was planned with the help of museum consultants and aims to welcome specialized ethnographic exhibits featuring the University's or other collections. Presently on display is "Ya Kafi Ya Shafi," an exhibition of more than 200 items from the Tawfiq Canaan Collection of Palestinian Amulets.
Al
Qamariah Art Gallery in the Diana Tamari Sabbagh Center was
inaugurated in the Spring of 2000 with an exhibition from the University's Art
Collection. A program is being arranged to host other exhibitions in this gallery
and to invite local and international artists in activities connected with the
exhibits. Talented students will also be encouraged to exhibit their art works
at Al Qamariah.
The Palestinian Archeological Display Room in the Institute of Archeology,
the Old Campus, displays items from the digs conducted by the Institute as well
as pieces from the Traditional Pottery collection.
The Collections
Workroom/Laboratory This is another space connected
with the collections and located in the Diana Tamari Sabbagh Center. It
is assigned for the storage, registration, maintenance and technical supervision
f the collections. This room forms the basis for a small restoration laboratory.
Recently, two professional restorers from The Chicago Historical Society were
invited to survey the collections and report their conditions, drawing recommendations
for future restoration and preservation schemes. An introductory seminar on the
conservation of material cultural was organized during the stay of the two restorers
for which a number of people, representing other Palestinian institutions involved
with cultural heritage, were invited. Also this year, the technical assistant
for the collections has been hosted for six months in an apprenticeship program
by the Linden Museum in Stuttgart/Germany. This is to advance know-how and skills
in Museum Management. A database is being developed to help preserve and organize
the collections in order to facilitate research and study opportunities. This
is being undertaken with the help of the Computer Center in the University and
a number of students who have been actively assisting in the documentation and
registration of the collections.