In February 2016, Belgian glass artist Michèle Vanvlasselaer had the opportunity to visit Gaza for the first time and to speak about her work at the University of Palestine.

Having travelled extensively throughout the Middle East over the last 20 years, including visits to Palestine and Israel and a few years of living and working in Cairo, she had a good idea of what to expect.

Nevertheless, the trip to Gaza was a revelation and she returned buzzing with ideas. Inspired, Michèle decided to create, with a group of friends, a new initiative called GLAZZA: an association to support artistic and educational projects in the visual arts.