Location: Bethlehem
Portrait of an Architect and Designer Dar al-Kalima College
“As an arts institution Dar al-Kalima College reflects Palestinian cultural identity and helps to provide much needed skills and jobs in arts related fields.” -- Dar al-Kalima College
I was lucky to tour the Dar al-Kalima College and the Diyar Art Center in Bethlehem with Dr. Georges Khoury. Born in Bethlehem, but trained as an architect and designer in France where he lived for 36 years, Georges Khoury recently returned to Bethlehem as the arcjtect and designer-in-residence of the college. Dr. Khoury is a teacher passionate about his subject, his students, his college, and his art. His aesthetics and creativity infused every aspect of the college and of my tour. From the furniture he has created to the prototype logos for the college, my companion Alessandra Abusada and I could see his stamp on the studios, workshops, classrooms, library, offices, and exhibit spaces of this thriving “first in Palestine” arts institution.
A Christian college accredited in 2006, Dar al-Kalima caters to Muslim and Christian Palestinians. The first class of 30 students from Bethlehem, Jerusalem, and Ramallah began classes in September 2006 working toward two-year diplomas. The first class of the four year program graduates this year. The college wants to change life for Palestinians by impacting economics, politics, and culture.
The dream of Khoury and other people in the college is to equip its students with academic and vocational skills necessary for a very difficult job market. The aim is that by providing training which meets international standards in the fields of tourism, media, music and communication and the ability and skills to compete in an international market students will succeed.