Europe’s first and only Palestinian Museum opens in Edinburgh
20 May 2025
Europe’s first museum of contemporary Palestinian art opened in Edinburgh on Saturday, 17 May. Located at 13a Dundas Street, the Palestine Museum in Scotland offers a permanent space for Palestinian artists to share their stories and challenge dehumanising narratives through art.
The museum features paintings, sculptures, documentary films, and a striking floor map of 1948 Palestine—bridging memory and artistic expression. Exhibitions include work by renowned artists such as Samia Halaby, Nabil Anani, and Sana Farah Bishara, alongside emerging talents from Gaza like Mohammed Alhaj and Maisara Baroud. Mediums span painting, embroidery, video, and installation, reflecting the lived experience of Palestinians under occupation and in exile.
Founder Faisal Saleh, whose family fled Palestine during the Nakba, describes the project as a way for Palestinians to speak for themselves: “We show that Palestinians are human, creative, and resilient.”
Edinburgh was chosen for its cultural strength and long-standing grassroots solidarity with Palestine. Entirely volunteer-run, the museum is the first of its kind in Europe and joins its sister institution in Connecticut, USA.
This is more than a gallery. It is a defiant act of cultural resistance. In a time when Palestinian art is being silenced and events cancelled, this space stands firm—to preserve memory, honour survival, and protect creative freedom. It welcomes all who seek truth, understanding, and solidarity.
Visit the Palestine Museum in Scotland, open Wednesday to Sunday, 11am–6pm. Contact: 0131 558 9872 | info@palestinemuseum.scot. Spread the word, bring friends, host an event, donate or volunteer. Your support helps keep Palestinian stories seen and heard.