Palestine Tel: 02- 6261045 Fax: 02 - 6261372

Yabous Cultural Center
Al Zahra St. - P.o.Box 54874
Jerusalem -Palestine
Tel: 02- 6261045
Fax: 02 - 6261372
‫مع الشكر الجزيل لداعمي حفل العشاء الخريي‬
Yabous Productions
Yabous Productions is a Jerusalem based Palestinian, non-profit organisation that
produces various artistic productions. Founded in 1995 by a dynamic group led by
Suhail Khoury, and composed of Yaccoub Abu Arafeh, Mazen Bazbaz, Dalia Habash,
Jack Persekian, Maha Qubti, and Raed Saadeh . Since then, other committed members
joined Yabous Productions, whose aim was to revive cultural life in Jerusalem.
Yabous Productions was established to revive cultural life in the city of
Jerusalem, with a Palestinian identity and originality. Yabous, is the historical
first name of Jerusalem, named after one of the Canaanite tribes that built the
first city of Jerusalem, 5000 years ago.
Mission statement
Development of arts to promote
cultural and national values and
to advance humanity...
Objectives
Ra’ouf Haj Yahya -Jerusalem Festival 2008
Key milestones
Steve Sabella -Jerusalem Festival 2007
1. to develop cultural work in Palestine in general and in Jerusalem in particular.
2. to revive the central role of Jerusalem in the Palestinian cultural life, and to provide opportunities for networking with
the world’s culture in general, and the Arab culture in particular.
3. to advance the level of culture appreciation and artistic taste of the public.
4. to promote Palestinian artists, groups and productions locally and globally.
5. to carry out cultural outreach to all segments of the society.
6. to coordinate and complement the work of Palestinian cultural organisations.
1. Organizing the ‘Jerusalem Festival’ every summer at the Tombs of the Kings. Since 1996, the festival has been
considered as the most important annual cultural event in Jerusalem, organised by Yabous in cooperation with the
Consulate General of France, hosting a group of international, Arab and Palestinian artists. Organising the festival in the
city of Jerusalem reaffirms the commitment of Palestinians to culture, enhances cultural exchange with the Arab world,
and provides an opportunity for Palestinians to enjoy music and arts performed by Palestinian, Arab and international
artists.
Ra’ouf Haj Yahya - Palfest 2009
2. In partnership with the British organisation ‘Engaged Events’, Yabous Productions, has been organising a ‘Festival of
Literature - PALFEST’, on a yearly basis since 2008. Various groups of international, Arab and national writers and poets
participate in literary readings, workshops, field trips and musical evenings, held in many Palestinian cities;
3. In partnership with the New York based organisation ‘Dreams of a nation’, Yabous Productions, organised a film
festival ‘Dreams of a Nation’ in 2004. A second film festival, ‘Arab film festival’ was carried out in 2005;
4. In 2007, and in cooperation with Ashtar Theatre, Yabous Productions organised a seasonal theatre for the oppressed.
This festival offered multi-cultural models and experiences of a variety of plays within the framework of the Forum
theatre, with the participation of international and local theatres;
Mohammad Saleh -A Day for Gaza 2009
5. In partnership with Edward Said National Conservatory of Music, Yabous
Productions has been organising ‹The Jerusalem Concert Seasons› every spring
and fall since 1999. This initiative is in support of promoting international, Arab
and local musicians and composers;
6. Yabous Productions plays an important role in identifying and marketing
Palestinian music across the world, through participation in international
festivals and events on a regular basis including in the European Forum of
Worldwide Music Festivals (EFWMF), and the World Music Expo (WOMEX). In
cooperation with the department of culture and media in Al Sharjah, Yabous
Productions held a conference in 2005, reaching out to reputable Arab festivals,
aiming at enhancing networking and outreach within the Arab world. During
the conference, the Arab Music Festival Network was declared and initiated;
7. Within the framework of promoting and marketing Palestinian musical
groups, Yabous Productions facilitated tours for many Palestinian groups, and
facilitated enhanced and improved relations with many institutions, cultural
centres, festivals, and cultural federations across the world. Yabous Productions
also carried out a campaign ‹ Music from My country Palestine› that promotes
the productions of the best Palestinian musicians at the local and international
levels.
The cultural center consists of the following:
Yabous Cultural Centre
Based on the important role that culture plays in defying the continued confrontations, harassment and threats to national
identity, there was a crucial and urgent need for consolidated efforts to improve cultural life in the heart of Jerusalem.
Implementing a series of cultural projects is key to reviving cultural life, which has been deep rooted in the city of Jerusalem.
To meet the needs of Palestinian citizens residing in Jerusalem, there was an urgent need to activate culture, which otherwise
has been oppressed and neglected since 1967. Establishing a cultural centre in Jerusalem that is in line with the Palestinian
national agenda and plans, and meets the rights and needs of Palestinians, has become a crucial step. The cultural centre
is located in Al Zahra Street, on the old premises of al Quds cinema, in the heart of Jerusalem.
The cultural centre has a developmental vision of instilling and reviving culture and arts in Jerusalem that meets the needs
and rights of the people of all ages, including children, irrelevant of gender, color, religion, status and nationality. Through
various social and cultural events, the centre will create a new social reality, artistic creativity, and will revive culture in
Jerusalem that has been absent for many years. The centre will also provide job opportunities for a large segment of the
society.
- A cinema hall that will feature international, regional and local movies and festivals; including children’s and young people’s
movies.This hall can accommodate 85 people.
- A dance and music performances’ hall that seat 420 people, and is fully equipped with the latest technical requirements
and Orchestra pit.
- A small multi-purpose hall for exhibitions and performances that accommodates 120 people.
- A fully-equipped conference room for the use of local and international institutions.
- A small children’s centre for puppet shows; story telling; children activities as well as baby sitting services to enable caregivers
to enjoy the centre’s activities.
- A book store that sells books, magazines, publications and a variety of Palestinian products.
- A modern cafeteria.
The cultural centre will serve all segments of the society of all ages and backgrounds. It will reach out to most vulnerable
groups, institutions, schools, and international organizations working in Palestine.
Yabous Productions has been working with a wide variety of engineering and managerial companies in setting the
standards for the cultural centre. The construction / renovation of the centre has been designed and supervised by ‘Atelier
D'architecture et D'urbanisme Anastas - Bethlehem, managed by ‘Simon Kouba Consultants- Jerusalem’ and implemented
by - main contractor ‘the Six brothers Contracting Company’.
However, and in light of the prevailing political situation, there is a need for continued coordinated efforts to provide
support, whether moral or financial to allow this project to succeed, develop and excel.
United for Culture in Jerusalem
General Assembly of Yabous
Nazmi al Jubeh – Chairperson
Abdul Qader al-Husseini – Member
Khaled al-Kaloti – Member
Monica Awad – Member
Rima Awad – Member
Mazen Bazbaz – Treasurer
Hidaya Dajani- Member
Yusef Daher– Member
Sami El-Yousef– Member
Mahmoud Jaddeh – Member
Issa Kassissieh – Member
Zahi Khouri– Member
Suhail Khoury – Member
Jamal Nusseibeh – Member
Raya Yusef – Member
Yabous’s Team
Rania Elias - Director
Randa Antar - Executive Secretary
Khaled el-Ghoul - Project Coordinator
Samir Hallac - Accountant
Maha Hammouri-Ghosheh - Fundraising
Rima Issa / Coordinator – cinema program
Reem Jahshan - Graphic Designer
Majed Musafar - Services
Nadine Nashashibi - Groups Affairs Manager
Hind Touma-Hashweh / Advertising &
Marketing Coordinator
Guards
Munther Barakat (officer) , Ala Haddad,
Haitham Hijazi, Khaldoun Hijazi, Naser Qos,
Imad Shaloudi, Muhanned Shaweesh.
The following are to be commended for
their significant support for the Yabous
Cultural Center
- Arab Fund for local economic & social
development
- Bayt Mal Quds Asharief Agency – Morocco
- British Consulate General – Jerusalem
- Consulate General of Belgium – Jerusalem
- Consulate General of France
- Consulate General of Spain - Spanish
- Cooperation Office – Jerusalem
- Ford Foundation
- Government of Sharjah UAE
- OPEC Fund for International Development
- Palestine Investment Fund
- Paltel Group
- Swiss Agency for Development &
Cooperation (SDC)
- The Representative Office of Norway to the
Palestinian Authority
- The Representative office of the Federal
Republic of Germany
Special Thanks are extended to all those who gave their precious and support to this fundraising dinner
Ahed Izhiman
Akram Sbitany & Sons Co.
Andre Karkar Trading Ltd.
Ayah Jawharieh Shaker
Azzahra Hotel & Restaurant
Betty Majaj
Borderline
CMC- Computer Media Center
Dalal Abu Amneh & her musical band
Elias Anastas
Gasman Production
Guiding Star LTD.
Hanna Tams
Hidaya Dajani
Ihab Khatib
Imad Al-Hindi
Issa Freij
Issam Murad
Jacir Palace –Intercontinental Bethlehem
Jerusalem Cinema Co. Ltd
Jerusalem Hotel
Jihad Barq
Johar Silver
Legacy Hotel
Melia Centre – Arab Orthodox Society
Omar Al Qattan
Oweif Troup - Oushaq School of performing arts
Palestinian Pottery – Nishan Balian
Raed Awad
Raed Duzdar
Raha Tours & Travel
Ramallah Arak Company
Rawdat Az-zuhur Association
Samia Khoury
St. Georges Hotel
Taybeh Brewing Company
Thaer Hamayel
The Six Brothers Contracting Co.
Tulip Saloon
Zeina Nashashibi
Ziad Khalaf
* (Alphabetically listed)