2025 Award "Best Practice in Citizen Participation"

The Ramallah Music Space in Ramallah is the pilot phase of the city's Music Hub; it was founded in response to the urgent need for a space where Palestinian musicians could gather, experiment, develop their skills, collaborate, and sustain their artistic expression despite political and economic challenges. Recognizing the lack of such spaces. This initiative followed a strategic plan developed by the municipality for the city's music sector. The space builds on Palestine's tradition of music as both a form of cultural preservation and social resistance.

Deeply aligned with social movements, the Palestine Music Space empowers artists to use music as a tool for advocacy, community engagement, and resistance against cultural erasure. It supports local development by fostering a thriving music industry that contributes to economic sustainability through job creation, professional training, and entrepreneurship in the arts. The space ensures financial accessibility by offering free or low-cost programs, making music education available to all.

Committed to social inclusion, gender equity, and diversity, this music hub creates opportunities for women, youth, and marginalized artists to participate in the music scene, breaking barriers to artistic expression. By blending heritage with innovation, it connects tradition with contemporary creativity, reinforcing Palestinian cultural identity while positioning musicians on the global stage.

• www.ramallah.ps (External link)