Museum of the Palestinian People

Yalla! Storytime! What is a Palestinian Thobe?
2025-07-19 11:00 - 12:00 (America/New_York) | Museum of the Palestinian People, 1900 18th Street NW, Washington, DC, 20009, United States
Yalla! Storytime (يلا ستوريتايم), led by Curator Wafa Ghnaim at the Museum of the Palestinian People, is a monthly storytelling program designed for children ages 4 and up. Each session features a thoughtfully selected book that illuminates Palestinian history, culture, and traditions, offering young readers a window into the richness of Palestinian heritage. Through the power of storytelling, children will engage with narratives that foster imagination, cultural appreciation, and a deepened connection to identity and belonging.
As part of Gaza Remains the Story Yalla! Storytime invites young audiences to explore the cultural heritage of Gaza through story and art. Curator Wafa Ghnaim will lead a special reading of “Sitti’s Bird: A Gaza Story” by Malak Mattar, followed by creative activities from TATREEZ BEAUTY: A Coloring Book.
🎟 Pricing:

$5 per child | $10 per adult
$25 for a family package (2 adults + 2 children)
$20 for Tatreez Beauty: A Coloring Book

Join us for a fun and enriching experience that fosters imagination, cultural appreciation, and a deepened sense of identity!

Yalla! Storytime! The Map of Palestine
2025-06-14 11:00 - 12:00 | Museum of the Palestinian People, 1900 18th Street NW, Washington, DC, 20009, United States
Yalla! Storytime (يلا ستوريتايم), led by Curator Wafa Ghnaim at the Museum of the Palestinian People, is a monthly storytelling program designed for children ages 4 and up. Each session features a thoughtfully selected book that illuminates Palestinian history, culture, and traditions, offering young readers a window into the richness of Palestinian heritage. Through the power of storytelling, children will engage with narratives that foster imagination, cultural appreciation, and a deepened connection to identity and belonging.
As part of Gaza Remains the Story, Yalla! Storytime invites young audiences to explore the cultural heritage of Gaza through story and art. Curator Wafa Ghnaim will lead a special reading of “A Map for Falasteen: A Palestinian Child’s Search for Home” by Maysa Odeh, inspecting maps in the museum space and learning geography. The session will conclude with creative expression through coloring sheets in TATREEZ BEAUTY: A Coloring Book.

Curator Tour: Gaza Remains the Story
2025-05-07 18:00 - 19:00 | Museum of the Palestinian People, 1900 18th Street NW, Washington, DC, 20009, United States
Join Curator Wafa Ghnaim for a guided tour of Gaza Remains the Story, offering deeper insights into the exhibition’s works and themes. This tour will explore how Palestinian cultural heritage—especially from Gaza—continues to survive and adapt through art, collective memory, and diasporic storytelling. Participants are invited to reflect on their role in supporting Palestinian-led preservation of cultural heritage in the face of ongoing devastation.
📅 Wednesday, May 7 | 6:00–7:00 PM
🎟 Sliding scale: $30–$40

Living With Drones
2025-05-04 14:00 - 16:00, 2025-05-03 19:00 - 21:00 | Sitar Arts Center, 1700 Kalorama Rd NW #101, Washington, DC, 20009, United States
Living with Drones is a groundbreaking live journalism production that weaves together wartime diaries, personal testimonials from Gaza, multimedia elements, and live performance to explore the devastating impact of drone warfare on civilians. Premiering in London and later performed to sold-out audiences in Toronto, the show uses diary-style storytelling and immersive soundscapes to illuminate the trauma, resilience, and humanity of those living under constant surveillance and threat. Created by the stitched! live journalism studio, the production challenges traditional journalistic norms by centering non-dominant voices and fostering critical community dialogue on war, technology, and accountability.
Pay What You Can Ticket Scale: $25-$35

Documentary Screening: No Other Land
2025-04-27 17:30 - 19:30 | Museum of the Palestinian People, 1900 18th Street NW, Washington, DC, 20009, United States
Join us at the Museum of the Palestinian People for a special screening of No Other Land, the 2025 Oscar-winning documentary that follows Basel Adra, a young Palestinian activist documenting the destruction of his homeland in Masafer Yatta while resisting the forced displacement of his people.
📅 Date & Time:

Sunday, April 27 | 5:30–7:30 PM

The evening will begin with an introduction to the Museum and the history of Masafer Yatta, providing context for the ongoing struggle against Israeli military displacement. The screening will follow, showcasing Basel’s powerful firsthand footage and his unexpected friendship with Yuval, a Jewish Israeli journalist who supports his cause but grapples with the deep divide between their lived realities.
Tickets: Sliding scale $20, $25, $30
The sliding scale allows us to keep our events accessible while also continuing to fund cultural programs like this one. If cost is a barrier, please reach out to us at info@mpp-dc.org, and we’ll be happy to make accommodations.
📍 Location: Museum of the Palestinian People
✉️ Contact: info@mpp-dc.org
Don’t miss this opportunity to witness a deeply personal and urgent story of resistance, friendship, and the fight for justice.

Documentary Screening: No Other Land
2025-04-26 19:00 - 21:00 | Museum of the Palestinian People, 1900 18th Street NW, Washington, DC, 20009, United States
Join us at the Museum of the Palestinian People for a special screening of No Other Land, the 2025 Oscar-winning documentary that follows Basel Adra, a young Palestinian activist documenting the destruction of his homeland in Masafer Yatta while resisting the forced displacement of his people.
📅 Date & Time:

Saturday, April 26 | 7:00–9:00 PM

The evening will begin with an introduction to the Museum and the history of Masafer Yatta, providing context for the ongoing struggle against Israeli military displacement. The screening will follow, showcasing Basel’s powerful firsthand footage and his unexpected friendship with Yuval, a Jewish Israeli journalist who supports his cause but grapples with the deep divide between their lived realities.
Tickets: Sliding scale $20, $25, $30
The sliding scale allows us to keep our events accessible while also continuing to fund cultural programs like this one. If cost is a barrier, please reach out to us at info@mpp-dc.org, and we’ll be happy to make accommodations.
📍 Location: Museum of the Palestinian People
✉️ Contact: info@mpp-dc.org
Don’t miss this opportunity to witness a deeply personal and urgent story of resistance, friendship, and the fight for justice.

Zoom Conversation with Author, Ahmed Masour
2025-04-24 11:00 - 12:00 | DC
“Vanished: The Mysterious Disappearance of Mustafa Ouda” is a mystery novel that takes place in the heart of the now destroyed Jabaliya Camp, through the eyes of an eight-year old boy, Omar. Through Omar, author Ahmed Masoud takes the reader through the alleyways of the camp, the terrors induced by Israeli soldiers, and the temporality of life, in search of his missing father.
Masoud grew up in Jabaliya Refugee Camp. His paternal family were originally from the village of Deir Sneid, and his grandfather had owned a stone house and farms in Jerusalem prior to the Nakba. With an interest in western music and writers like Charles Dickens, Masoud learned English at a young age and went on to study English literature at Al-Azhar University. In 2002, at the age of 20, he moved to London. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts (BA) and a Master of Arts (MA) in English literature from London Metropolitan University and went on to complete his PhD in comparative literature at Goldsmiths, University of London.
In 2014, Masoud wrote the play Walaa: Loyalty about the Syrian refugee crisis although his first play in 2008, Go to Gaza, Drink the Sea, was about his home. His third play, The Shroud Maker, a satirical play about the titular woman named Hajja Souad, went on a tour of the UK with with Amnesty International.
Masoud’s debut novel Vanished: The Mysterious Disappearance of Mustafa Ouda was published via Rimal Books. The novel was shortlisted for a 2015 Palestine Book Award by Middle East Monitor.
Masoud has been a lecturer at the University of the Arts London, as well as head of international partnership development at Oxford Brookes University for nine years and, as of 2019, head of Regent’s University London’s international partnerships office. He joined the University of Plymouth’s Displacement Studies Research Network. He was selected to be the writer in residence at the 2019 Bristol Palestine Film Festival. In 2022, he founded the PalArt Collective and Festival initiative and published his second novel Come What May.
Helena Cobban is the President of Just World Educational and the Founder and CEO of Just World Books, proud publishers of Vanished. Helena will be our co-host for this virtual conversation.
Join us to discuss the book’s meaning and impact with the author, Ahmed Masoud, as he shares his novel, navigating life under occupation, and his lived experience of growing up in Jabaliya.

Exhibit Opening: Gaza Remains the Story
2025-04-11 18:00 - 20:00 | Museum of the Palestinian People, 1900 18th Street NW, Washington, DC, 20009, United States
📅 Date: Friday, April 11, 2025
⏰ Time: 6:00 PM
📍 Location: Museum of the Palestinian People, Washington, DC
💰 Contribution: Pay-What-You-Can ($25–$35)
Gaza Remains the Story” is an exhibition that centers Gaza’s cultural heritage, resilience, and lived reality amid genocide, war, and erasure. Featuring historical archives, contemporary artworks, and community-centered scholarship, the exhibition bears witness to the devastation unfolding in Gaza while honoring the enduring creativity of its people. Based on the Palestinian Museum’s original exhibition, this version is adapted by the curator Wafa Ghnaim, with new research and urgent questions about cultural preservation, exile, and memory. It invites audiences to consider their role in sustaining Palestinian identity, both through the digital archive and the intimate, indigenous act of storytelling. “Gaza Remains the Story” is on view April 11 to November 2, 2025 at the Museum of the Palestinian People. Learn more about this adaptation for the Museum of the Palestinian People at www.tatreezandtea.com/gaza

Film Screening: From Ground Zero
2025-03-16 16:00 - 18:30, 2025-03-15 16:00 - 18:30 | Museum of the Palestinian People, 1900 18th Street NW, Washington, DC, 20009, United States
Join us for a powerful and deeply moving screening of From Ground Zero, an Oscar-shortlisted film capturing the lives of Palestinians in Gaza over the past year. Initiated by Palestinian director Rashid Masharawi, this extraordinary collection of short films brings together the voices of twenty-two Palestinian filmmakers living through war, revealing intimate and untold stories beyond the headlines.
Through moments of both joy and pain, From Ground Zero offers a rare and unfiltered perspective on the resilience of our people persevering through wartime. The film’s cumulative emotional impact is unforgettable, making this a screening you won’t want to miss.
If you haven’t yet had the chance to experience this remarkable film, now is the time. Join us as we bear witness to these powerful stories and honor the resiliency of our filmmakers.

Expert Talk: The Museum’s Palestinian Dress Collection
2025-03-08 12:00 - 14:00 | Museum of the Palestinian People, 1900 18th Street NW, Washington, DC, 20009, United States
Wafa Ghnaim is a Palestinian dress historian, embroiderer, researcher, educator, and the museum’s Curator. Drawing from the museum’s permanent collection, she will present a selection of Palestinian dresses that illustrate the historical and cultural significance of textile traditions in the diaspora and their path to the Museum of the Palestinian People. In recognition of International Women’s Day, Wafa will also examine the role of Palestinian women as cultural stewards, analyzing how dressmaking and tatreez (Palestinian embroidery) function as acts of resistance against cultural erasure. Through this lens, she will explore how embroidery preserves collective memory, asserts self-determination, and sustains Palestinian heritage in the face of ongoing dispossession.

Family Mornings at the Museum: Featuring Rashida Tlaib's Book
2025-03-08 10:30 | Museum of the Palestinian People, 1900 18th Street NW, Washington, DC, 20009, United States
In honor of International Women’s Day, join us for a special Family Morning at the Museum as we celebrate the inspiring story of Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib and her journey to Washington. We will read Mama in Congress: Rashida Tlaib’s Journey to Washington, a powerful book that tells the story of how Rashida Tlaib became the first Palestinian-American woman elected to the U.S. Congress. Written by Tlaib herself, along with Miranda Paul and Adam Tlaib, and illustrated by Olivia Aserr, the book emphasizes the importance of representation and the significance of Palestinian women in leadership roles.
Through this story, we’ll explore themes of resilience, identity, and the transformative impact of having diverse voices in positions of power. This event will highlight the importance of representation in shaping a more inclusive future, especially for Palestinian women and girls, who often face barriers to being seen and heard. All ages are welcome to come together and celebrate the trailblazing path of Rashida Tlaib and the power of women in leadership.

Film Screening: Naila & the Uprising
2025-03-02 18:30 | Museum of the Palestinian People, 1900 18th Street NW, Washington, DC, 20009, United States
Film Screening: Naila and the Uprising with Producer Fadi Abu Shammalah
📅 October 30 | 📍 Middle East Books & More | 🕒 6-8:30pm
Join us for a screening of Naila and the Uprising, the award-winning documentary by Just Vision that highlights the vital role of women in leading the First Intifada. The film will be followed by a discussion with Fadi Abu Shammalah, one of its producers.
Abu Shammalah is an affiliate visiting scholar at Georgetown University and Executive Director of the General Union of Cultural Centers in Palestine. A lifelong resident of Gaza until 2023, he brings firsthand insight into the intersections of art, activism, and resilience.

Museum Closed (Holiday)
2024-12-31 - 2025-01-01, 2024-12-25 | DC

Artist Talk with Mohammed Sabaaneh
2024-12-18 12:00 - 13:00 | DC
Join us for a Zoom conversation with Mohammad Sabaaneh about his life in Palestine, art, and how the two intertwine.
Mohammad Sabaaneh’s art is on display at the Museum of the Palestinian People through February 2025.
About the Artist:

Mohammad Sabaaneh is a Palestinian cartoonist and a former political prisoner in Israel. He is the author of White and Black (2017) and Power Born of Dreams: My Story is Palestine (2021), whichwon the 2022 Palestine Book Award. His new book, 30 Seconds from Gaza: Diary of Genocidewill be released spring 2025. He is a Middle East representative for the Cartoonists Rights Network International and has had his work published in the Middle East Monitor, Al-Quds Al-Arabi, Al-Hayat al-Jadida and many others. He teaches art at the Arab American University of Palestine.
Sabaaneh’s art challenges the narratives imposed by the occupying forces by bringing to life the faces, emotions, and stories of those often overlooked. As he describes it, his art is a form of defiance against the erasure and dehumanization of Palestinians. By using stark imagery and powerful symbolism, Sabaaneh seeks to rehumanize the Palestinian people, affirming their identity, dignity, and rights as the indigenous inhabitants of their land.

Children's Reading Hour with Author, Simon Sakkab
2024-12-15 10:30 - 11:30 | DC
The Museum of the Palestinian People will be hosting Simon Sakkab on Sunday, December 15th for family mornings at the Museum!
He will be leading a story-time and a discussion beginning at 10:30 AM, followed by a child-led museum tour.
‘Palestine A- Z ‘:
‘Palestine A to Z’ is an English-Arabic bilingual, illustrated book for children. It has tempo, rhyme and alliteration; a joy to read for every generation. It takes the reader from the aspirations of a people to return to their homes in their homeland, through ancestral lemon and olive groves, ancient biblical cities, street foods, tents and refugee camps, to Palestinians’ rich history and culture. The author and the illustrators worked hand-in-hand to convey multiple themes and symbols in colorful and meaningful illustrations.
About Simon Sakkab:
Simon Sakkab is a first generation Palestinian-American. He learned about Palestine, first hand, from his grandmother, a Christian Palestinian, who with her family became refugees during the Nakba of 1948. He has visited many parts of Palestine, and has stories to tell about his experiences and adventures. The book is a labor of love. The author hopes that children of Palestinian descent learn about where they come from, and their beautiful, rich heritage; also, to inspire the curiosity of children worldwide, encouraging them to learn more about Palestine.

Museum of the Palestinian People's 7th Annual Dinner
2024-10-18 18:30 - 21:30 | DC
This event is sold out, but you can still support the Museum’s fundraising efforts by donating or participating in our silent auction.

Voices from Falastin - Second Show
2024-09-29 19:00 - 20:30 | Sitar Arts Center, 1700 Kalorama Rd NW #101, Washington, DC, 20009, United States
As we approach the one year mark since our people in Palestine showed the world that the Palestinian people will continue to resist against the occupation of our land, the Museum of the Palestinian People will be hosting Voices from Falastin, a performance that will honor and center the Palestinian voices and direct testimonies from inside Gaza and the West Bank over the last 365 days.
In just one year, the Lancet Report estimates the death toll in Palestine to be more than 186,000. As we continue forward in the diaspora and in Washington, DC, we vow to honor those who have been killed in the ongoing genocide and ensure their voices are heard across the world. In Voices from Falastin we will spotlight testimonies from Khan Younis in Southern Gaza to the testimonies of children illegally imprisoned in Israeli prisons. Each testimony vividly conveys stories of forced expulsion, love, despair and steadfast resilience. All the testimonies will be read and performed by Palestinians living in the DMV area.
On Sunday, September 29, we will host two showings of Voices from Falastin at 3pm and 7pm. Proceeds from the showings will be donated to HEAL Palestine and Anera to support the dire need for mutual aid in the form of medical treatment, food, shelter, and more in Gaza and the West Bank.
We hope you will join us as an act of solidarity for our people on the land who remain steadfast in their resistance against all odds.

Voices from Falastin - First Show
2024-09-29 15:00 - 16:30 | Sitar Arts Center, 1700 Kalorama Rd NW #101, Washington, DC, 20009, United States

Preserving Palestinian Identity (Day 2)
2024-07-13 11:00 - 17:00 | The Festival Center, 1640 Columbia Rd NW, Washington, D.C., 20009, United States
On July 12th and 13th in the heart of D.C., we will gather for a two-day event dedicated to educating and uplifting the voices and stories of the Palestinian people.
As people from around the world take to the streets for Palestine, the Museum of the Palestinian People seeks to provide a space that renews our connection to each other and educates the public about who we are.
Even as attempts to erase our art, culture, and people continue, we invite you to join us for two days of solidarity in sharing the art of Palestinian resistance and الصمود (Samud, steadfastness).
Gather together in community for our two-day event, “Preserving Palestinian Identity: Art as Resistance” on July 12th and 13th in Washington D.C.
On Saturday, our community will come together for a family-friendly day of Palestinian history lessons, a Voices from Gaza Reading, art from Palestinian artists, Palestinian food, live painting, kite education and painting table, and henna tattoos.
Tickets: Free with a suggested donation ($5, $10, $20)
Register today!
Saturday, July 13th SCHEDULE:
11am-5pm
11:00 am – Festival Opens
Throughout the day at the tables:
First Floor

On Display:Art from Palestine and the Diaspora
Community Art Project
Kite Painting Table / Section
Traditional Palestinian Crafts Showcase
Henna Tattooing

Second Floor— Reading Nook

Live Readings from Hannah Moushabeck
Interlink Publishing Table, oldest Palestinian-owned publisher in the US.
Middle Eastern Book Store Table

Third Floor
Food by:

Chef Marcelle G Afram (Shababi)
Chef Jinan Deena (Bayti- Palestinian Hospitality Culinary Experience)

Cosby Hall Event Schedule

12:30 pm-1pm: Dabke Student Performance by District Debkeh with Free Dabke Lessons Afterwards
1 pm: Dabke Performance by Faris El-Layl Dabke
1:30 pm – 2:00 pm: Artist Ahmed Mansour speaks on his works
2pm – 2:30 pm: Musical performance by Mohamed Karzon
3pm – 4pm: Music Performance by Fuad Foty

Preserving Identity: Art as Resistance — Night 1
2024-07-12 17:00 - 21:00 | The Festival Center, 1640 Columbia Rd NW, Washington, D.C., 20009, United States
Tickets for Friday are now sold out
On July 12th and 13th in the heart of D.C., we will gather for a two-day event dedicated to educating and uplifting the voices and stories of the Palestinian people.
As people from around the world take to the streets for Palestine, the Museum of the Palestinian People seeks to provide a space that renews our connection to each other and educates the public about who we are.
Even as attempts to erase our art, culture, and people continue, we invite you to join us for two days of solidarity in sharing the art of Palestinian resistance and الصمود (Samud, steadfastness).
On Friday night, Palestinian voices take center stage as we amplify Palestinian art and heritage that has been passed down for generations.
We’ll start the night with Bshara Nassar, the founder and director of the Museum of the Palestinian People, then reflect on the ongoing struggle for liberation through the prose and poems of Zeina Azzam and Mohammed Arafat. Malikat Al Dabka will then tell the story of the tradition and steps of Dabka before Ahmad Damen weaves together the tales of the Palestinian songs he performs with his musical talents.
Friday schedule:
Thank you all so much for your support
Be sure to check out Saturday’s all-day free event. Click here to register or scroll down to learn more.
5pm: Doors are open for check-in. Guests are invited to enjoy dinner provided by our generous sponsor, Falafel Inc.
6:15 pm: Opening remarks Museum Founder and Director Bshara Nassar
6:30 pm: Performances by poets Zeina Azzam, Mohammed Arafat and Lenna Jawdat
7:15 pm: Dabke Performance by Malikat Al Dabke
8 pm: Musical performance by Mohamed Karzon
9 pm: Event Concludes for the Evening
