Melia Art & Embroidery Center
Where Heritage Becomes a Livelihood
We train women in the ancient arts of Tatreez, pottery, jewelry, and leather craft — and help them turn those skills into economic independence and lasting pride.
Craft as Resilience
Melia Art and Training Center was born from the same conviction that founded the Myrrh Bearers Society nearly a century ago: that a woman with a skill is a woman with power. We provide professional, high-quality training in some of the most significant craft traditions of Palestinian and Armenian heritage — and we ensure that every woman who trains with us has the knowledge, the network, and the means to make a living from what she creates.
Our flagship discipline is Tatreez — the Palestinian embroidery art recognized by UNESCO as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. In our workshops, Tatreez is not a museum piece. It is a living practice, taught with technical rigor and cultural depth, and connected to real markets and real income.
We welcome women from across Jerusalem, the West Bank, and beyond — at every level of experience — in an environment that is demanding in its standards and deeply supportive in its spirit.
UNESCO Recognition — Tatreez
Palestinian embroidery (Tatreez) was inscribed on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. At Melia Center, we are proud custodians of this tradition — ensuring it lives not only in archives, but in the hands and livelihoods of the next generation of Palestinian women.
Tatreez — Palestinian Embroidery (UNESCO Heritage)
The most significant of our disciplines. Our Tatreez training covers traditional regional patterns, the cultural and historical meaning of design motifs, technical embroidery skills from beginner to master level, and practical guidance on how to market and sell finished work locally and internationally.
Ceramic Pottery — Palestinian & Armenian Traditions
Fully equipped workshop covering hand-building, wheel throwing, glazing, and firing. Students produce original work grounded in the heritage aesthetics of both Palestinian and Armenian ceramic traditions — a reflection of Jerusalem’s layered cultural identity.
Jewelry Design
Original jewelry inspired by cultural motifs and executed with professional technique. Training covers design process, material selection, construction methods, and how to develop a personal collection and customer base.
Leather Craft
Traditional and contemporary leather techniques applied to bags, accessories, and decorative objects. A craft with deep roots in the regional artisan tradition, taught with attention to both heritage and modern market demand.
Training Programs
Learn With Us
Melia’s training programs are designed for women at all skill levels — whether you are approaching craft for the first time or seeking to professionalize an existing practice. We offer introductory workshops, extended skill-building courses, and advanced programs for practitioners.
Every participant graduates with more than a skill: they have a portfolio of work, an understanding of how to sell that work, and a connection to a community of Myrrh Bearers craftswomen building their economic independence together.
Shop Our Craft Products
Own a Piece of the Craft
Products made at Melia Art and Training Center are available for purchase — in-person at the center and through our online shop. Every item is handmade by a trained craftswoman from our community. When you buy, you invest directly in her livelihood.
Art & Craft Gallery
Explore our collection of unique embroidery and artistic creations. Each piece tells a story.
Get in Touch
Contact Melia Art and Training Center
Phone: 02-5326263
Email: melia.center@myrrhbearersjerusalem.org
Visit Melia Art and Training Center
Find Us
Reach Melia Art and Training Center during opening hours, or send us a message. We are here to welcome you.
- 02-5326263
- melia.center@myrrhbearersjerusalem.org
- Les Freres St, New Gate, Old City of Jerusalem