UNESCO will host the second of the three-part ResiliArt series of online discussions dedicated to Lebanon. ResiliArt Lebanon: Museums and Art Galleries for the Return of Cultural Life to Beirut, on 17 September, from 6 pm to 7.30 pm (CET), will bring together directors and curators of Lebanese museums and owners of art galleries to discuss the impact of the 4 August blast on cultural institutions and businesses, as well as actions to support the rehabilitation of cultural life to Beirut.
The ResiliArt Lebanon debates are held in the framework of UNESCO's #LiBeirut initiative, to mobilize support rehabilitate heritage, culture and education. The debate is organized in partnership with the Permanent Delegation of Lebanon to UNESCO.
Moderated by Ernesto Ottone R., UNESCO Assistant Director-General for Culture, the second debate will bring together: Ambassador Sahar Baassiri, Permanent Delegate of Lebanon to UNESCO, Anne-Marie Afeiche, Director, National Museum of Beirut and Director General of Lebanon's General Council of Museums, Zeina Arida, Director of the Sursock Museum; Suzy Hakimian, President of the Lebanese national Committee of the International Council of Museums (ICOM) and Curator of the Mineral Museum of Beirut, Joumana Asseily, owner of the Marfa' Art Gallery, Naila Kettaneh Kunigk, owner of the Tanit Art Gallery, Saleh Barakat, owner of the Saleh Barakat Gallery and Andrée Sfeir Semler, owner of the Semler Sfeir Gallery. The debate will be available in Arabic, English and French, and viewers will be able to ask questions and contribute their ideas through a live chat (join the debate).
The three-part series of debates focuses on the following themes:
- ResiliArt Lebanon: Defending cultural diversity through creativity (10 September)
- ResiliArt Lebanon: Museums and Art Galleries for the Return of Cultural Life in Beirut (17 September 2020, 6 pm to 7.30 pm CET)
- ResiliArt Lebanon: Bridging the Past and Future through Built Heritage (24 September, 6 pm to 7.30 pm, CET)
The blasts in Beirut resulted in hundreds of deaths, thousands of injuries and damage to many major historic buildings and cultural institutions located in the historic quarter. Among them are museums and art galleries that bear witness to the cultural and artistic wealth of Lebanon and contribute to Beirut's dynamic cultural scene. The human, cultural and economic consequences are immense, and the life of the capital city has been deeply affected. Lebanon's cultural sector was already experiencing difficulties before 4 August due to economic and social instability and the closure of cultural institutions due to COVID 19.
