Qalandiya International is a biennial event dedicated to visual arts, unfolding across cities, towns, and villages throughout historic Palestine. Its mission is to spotlight contemporary Palestinian culture on both local and global stages. Every two years, the Ramallah pMunicipality articipates as an organizer, curating a program that aligns with the festival’s central theme.
Why “Qalandiya”?
Since the early 2000s, the name “Qalandiya” has become synonymous with the Israeli military checkpoint, a stark emblem of the fragmentation and daily hardship imposed on Palestinian lives. The checkpoint, the largest and most infamous, strangles the West Bank and isolates Jerusalem from Ramallah and the northern cities.
Yet, “Qalandiya” bears another layer of meaning, obscured through deliberate erasure. Beneath the checkpoint lies a vital historical memory: Qalandiya International Airport, once a gateway linking Palestine to the region and the world. The nearby Qalandiya Refugee Camp, borrowing its name from the original village. This duality of connection and separation imbues the festival with profound significance. By naming the event Qalandiya International, the organizers aim to harness these contrasting narratives, situating Palestine firmly on the global cultural map while confronting the realities of occupation.
