In 2002 the Norwegian artist/painter Henrik Placht initiated the establishment of the International Academy of Art in Ramallah (IAAR), Palestine, now International Academy of Art - Palestine (IAAP).

In 2006 The Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs grantet nine million NOK,- distributed over three years for the establishing of the Academy. The Oslo National Academy of the Arts (KHiO) is now in collaboration with Henrik Placht and Reem Fadda, director for the Palestinian Association for Contemporary Art (PACA), working together on the further drift of the Academy.

The official opening of the Academy took place December 7th - 14th 2006. Dr. Maria Khoury is Head of the Academy, Khaled Hourani is the Arts Director and Reem Fadda is in charge of the theory curriculum.

The United Nations (UN) Palestinian department and the political department of UN from the Middle East has given Henrik Placht the task to create and open an exhibition with Palestinian artists. This IAAP exhibition took place in in the UN headquarter in New York, and opened on November the 29th 2006.

Reem Fadda visited The Oslo National Academy of the Arts late August 2006, and gave a speech at the opening of the term.

Reem Faddas speech

Reem Fadda (PACA) also has written an article on the background of the establishing of the International Academy of Art - Palestine (IAAP).

Reem Faddas article on This week in Palestine or on khio.no

Read more about the Academy (pdf)

Read the study plan (pdf)

20.12.06: Academy of Art in Ramallah: Showcasing the search for normalcy