On Saturday, July 12, the Terra Sancta Museum (Archaeological section) in Jerusalem opened its doors to families and students for an afternoon of discovery, creativity, and community engagement. The event, promoted by the association Pro Terra Sancta in partnership with the European Union as part of the project "Terra Sancta Museum: Heritage Education Hub for Palestinian Youth", was designed to bring the local community closer to the historical and artistic heritage preserved by the Franciscan friars within the museum.
The program engaged children, youth, and parents through a theatrical tour of the museum galleries and hands-on art workshops, offering a creative exploration of the region’s rich history and cultural identity.
“Our main goal,” explained Morgane Afnaim, the project manager, “is to bring the Palestinian community of Jerusalem closer to this space, which houses the archaeological collection of the Franciscan friars.” Now entering its second phase after four years of activity, the project aims to develop educational and cultural programs for children, schools, and families, in collaboration with museums, research centers, and universities.
“As Pro Terra Sancta,” she added, “we have been working closely with the Custody of the Holy Land since 2002. Together, we want to open up Franciscan spaces to the local community, also through the promotion of historical and artistic heritage. In doing so, we aim to build bridges between the long-standing Franciscan archaeological tradition and the local population.”
Nisreen Tahan, visual communicator and educator for the project, also highlighted the educational and cultural value of the initiative: “This project helps us present the museum in new, more accessible ways, closer to the culture of East Jerusalem’s community—especially for youth and families. For me, it is very meaningful to work with my own community in a challenging context like the one we are currently experiencing.”
Through art and history, the project aims to develop a new educational language, rooted in local culture yet open to innovation. “Working with children through artistic tools,” Nisreen said, “means creating a deeper, long-lasting impact. We hope this opens up new paths of expression and awareness for them—about their history, identity, and traditions.”
The Open Day was a tangible example of how cultural heritage can become a platform for dialogue, learning, and community building. Thanks to the collaboration between Pro Terra Sancta and the Custody of the Holy Land, the museum continues to serve not only as a place of preservation but also as a living space—capable of telling the story of history and faith in new ways, through the faces and voices of those who inhabit the city today.
The archaeological section of the museum preserves the rich Franciscan collection, the result of centuries of presence in the Holy Land and a testament to the friars’ ongoing commitment to research, preservation, and the transmission of memory.
Lucia Borgato
