{"id":167611,"date":"2020-08-31T12:00:43","date_gmt":"2020-08-31T11:00:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/?p=167611"},"modified":"2020-08-27T07:24:03","modified_gmt":"2020-08-27T06:24:03","slug":"palestinians-stage-surprise-thank-you-event-for-banksy-in-bethlehem","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/2020\/08\/palestinians-stage-surprise-thank-you-event-for-banksy-in-bethlehem\/","title":{"rendered":"Palestinians Stage Surprise ‘Thank You’ Event for Banksy in Bethlehem"},"content":{"rendered":"

Photographs of works go on display in Manger Square to celebrate British street artist\u2019s contribution to diversifying tourism.<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\"The<\/p>\n

Photographs of 20 pieces of Banksy\u2019s artwork in Palestine were displayed.<\/strong>
\nPhotograph: Murad Abusrour<\/strong><\/p>\n

21 Aug 2020 – <\/em>Photographs of 20 pieces of Banksy\u2019s artwork in Palestine have been displayed in the centre of Bethlehem as a thank you to the anonymous British street artist for helping diversify tourism in the city.<\/p>\n

The images were collated by Palestinian photographers for the surprise exhibition in Manger Square.<\/p>\n

Artists in Gaza carved the words \u201cThank you Banksy\u201d in sand on a stretch of beach to coordinate with the exhibition. Four of Banksy\u2019s artworks are in Gaza<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cBanksy always surprises us and today I want to surprise him,\u201d said event coordinator Yamen Elabed in a video message to Banksy<\/a> on Tuesday.<\/p>\n

Elabed said he put together the exhibition \u201cto show Banksy that we are grateful for the support\u201d. \u201cI just want the message of thanks to reach Banksy<\/a> \u2026 he has helped our economy with \u2018alternative\u2019 tourism.\u201d<\/p>\n

Last month Banksy auctioned three paintings<\/a> for \u00a32.2m in London and donated the proceeds to a hospital in Bethlehem.<\/p>\n

\n
\"Artists <\/picture><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n
Artists in Gaza carved the words \u2018Thank you Banksy\u2019 in sand.
\nPhotograph: Murad Abusrour<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Ayoub Ali, a taxi driver who attended the exhibition, said the appearance of Banksy\u2019s work had helped to diversify tourism in Bethlehem, a major pilgrimage destination.<\/p>\n