News / Pop-up gallery raises over £10k for people of Palestine
OVER £10,000 has been raised for the people of Palestine by Shetlanders following a pop-gallery held in Lerwick earlier this month.
The Palestinian Solidarity Shetland group said that the people of Shetland had “responded overwhelmingly” to the call to support those caught in the middle of the Israel-Palestine conflict.
Artists, makers, bakers, gardeners, writers and musicians donate everything from paintings to prints, and from tomato plants to tunes, in aid of the people of Palestine.
Other items up for sale included traditional knitwear, ceramics, glassware, CDs, books and homebakes.
Adrian Brockless composed an original tune which was recorded by himself on piano, Erin Smith on fiddle and Pauleen Wiseman on flute, for the fundraiser.
The tune was entitled Tae Palestine fae Shetland wi’ Love, and the original manuscript will be sent to Palestine via the ambassador for the country at the Palestinian Mission embassy in London.
A total of £10,432.76 was raised at the pop-up gallery at Toll Clock shopping centre between 31 May and 7 June, which the organisers described as “astonishing”.
The money raised will go to charities Medical Aid for Palestine, The Zaynab Project and to Palestinian families directly through Shetlander Louise Thomason.
The Zaynab Project is a women-led non-profit organisation committed to providing direct support to families and orphaned children in Gaza.
Founder Mina Shakib said they were “truly honoured” by the support from Shetland and its people.
“Thank you so much for your incredibly generous donation,” she said.
“Knowing that your community chose The Zaynab Project because of our focus on food, water, and orphan support in Gaza means so much to us.
“We are honoured to have received such a large, generous donation from Palestinian Solidarity Shetland and your community.”
Palestinian Solidarity Shetland co-ordinator Leanne-Sydonie Goodlad thanked Malcolm Younger for donating the use of Toll Clock shopping centre, those who spread the word about the gallery, and the people who donated generously to the fundraiser.
The group has held a weekly vigil, titled Gathering for Peace, in Lerwick on most Saturdays since early 2023.
Part of the hour long gathering every Saturday is a two-minute long silence for Palestinians and Israelis and “for those who are suffering and those who have been killed”.
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