The Donia Grant
Prism Press is pleased to announce the first recipient of the Donia Grant, Nour Alkhatib.
Nour Alkhatib an American-Palestinian interdisciplinary artist and clothing designer who was born and raised in Fort Worth,Texas, who also spent four years of her life in Jordan. Growing up in two different countries has influenced her work and given it a distinctive layered effect.
Alkhatib likes to approach her work in a non-traditional and free-flowing way, often using natural fibers and exaggerated silhouettes. Alkhatib’s experiences significantly influence her work. She is heavily inspired by her Palestinian heritage as well as her childhood, the feeling of nostalgia, family, cultural identity and worldbuilding which continue to be at the heart of her work. Using traditional symbols and patterns, and non-traditional mediums to illustrate these ideas.
You can learn more about her work here.
We are offering a grant of 200 USD to artists worldwide whose work focuses on social justice themes. This grant is dedicated to the memory of Donia Abu Mohsen, a 12-year-old girl who was killed by Israel this past year.
Donia had lost both of her legs and was receiving treatment in Nasser Hospital after her home was bombed, an attack that also killed her family. While she was recovering, the hospital itself was bombed, taking her life.
“The shell penetrated the ceiling and directly hit her,” said Dr. Mohamed Zakout of Nasser Hospital in the southern city of Khan Younis, in a statement to Al Jazeera.
Shortly before her death, Donia spoke in an interview with Al Jazeera:
“I hope to be a doctor to help people. Now, my life is changing. They have gone. I am alone now without them. I was connected to this life because I was very much connected to my mother, father and siblings who died. But I must continue despite the fact that I will never forget them.”
Although Donia will never have the chance to realize her dream of becoming a doctor, we hope that this grant will encourage artists from around the world to carry her story forward and to pursue their own visions and goals.
DUE TO AN OVERWHELMING RESPONSE WE HAVE TEMPORARILY SUSPENDED APPLICATIONS UNTIL WE CAN REVIEW ALL THE APPLICATIONS ALREADY SUBMITTED.