Established in 1992, Shams Al Karama Center is one of the leading cultural organizations in the southern region of the Gaza Strip. It was set up with a view to providing a creative focus for the hard-pressed community of this border town, the infrastructure of which has yet to recover the devastation inflicted by the 1967 war and whose unemployment rate has for many years stood at around 70%.

The aims of the Center include preserving and developing the Palestinian cultural heritage, encouraging children to express themselves through the arts, and helping talented members of the local community to develop their creative abilities. Run by a 13-member board, it comprises folklore, theater, music, fine arts, literature, children’s activities, and women’s activities sections.