The second biennial-style event in Palestine will take place from October 22 to November 15 despite the ongoing conflict and instability in the region, The Art Newspaper has reported. Organizers have decided to continue with the program as a symbol of collective resistance.

Qalandiya International is a contemporary art event held across the divide between Palestine and Israel. PNN wrote that this year, over 100 Palestinian and international artists will explore the themes of “Archives Lived and Shared.” The nine participating partner institutions in Jerusalem, Haifa, Ramallah, Hebron, and Gaza collectively raised the money to finance the events with contributions from local businesses.

Tina Sherwell, director of academic programs at IAAP told the Art Newspaper “We aim to transcend the restrictions on movement, political stagnation, and the consequent impacts on our cultural life and practices. We aim to bring Palestine art and artists to the attention of the world.”

Meanwhile, Jack Persekian, director of the Palestinian Museum, told PNN “We are pleased to be involved with organizing the second edition of Qalandiya International, which is the product of the consolidated efforts and resources of several prominent cultural and contemporary arts institutions in Palestine … We are seeking to form new means of communication and cultural connection across Palestine’s fragmented geographical reality.”

The successful first edition of Qalandiya International in 2012 featured 250 Palestinian and international artists. The event, covered by 150 journalists and critics, attracted over 6,500 visitors.