Highfields Welcomes Palestinian Students for Collaborative Art Project

Highfields was delighted to welcome a group of students from Palestine on Thursday 27 November as part of the ongoing Beyond the Checkpoints project, an initiative supporting creative and cultural exchanges for Palestinian youth.

During their visit, the students worked alongside Highfields’ Year 10 and Year 12 pupils to produce a powerful collaborative artwork exploring the theme of “What home means to me.” The workshop was led by acclaimed graffiti artist Mohammed “Aerosol” Ali, who opened the session with an inspiring talk on the role of art in building connections between communities and expressing personal identity.

The visit offered an invaluable opportunity for young people from both groups to share their experiences, thoughts, and emotions through creative expression. Throughout the session, students produced striking pieces of art that captured their individual interpretations of belonging, memory, and home.

In a meaningful exchange, the visiting students returned to Palestine with artwork created by Highfields students, while gifting their own creations in return. These artworks will serve as lasting reminders of the conversations, insights, and shared experiences formed during the day.

Teachers and students alike described the workshop as moving and uplifting, with many noting how quickly the two groups found common ground. The event highlighted the power of creativity to build bridges, spark dialogue, and deepen understanding between young people from different parts of the world.