The 1st Conference on Cultural Policies in the Arab Region
19-20 April 2010, Beirut, Lebanon
List of Confirmed Participants
1. Amin El Zaoui, Novelist, Algeria
aminzaoui@yahoo.fr
Amin El Zaoui is a writer, intellectual and novelist from Algeria. He works in the field of literature and translation, which include French, Spanish and Arabic Languages. Amin has worked as a professor of Critic Studies at the University of Oran, after earning his PhD for his book « The Image of the Intellectual in the Western Arab Stories». Amin El Zaoui has written ten novels, half in French, and the other half in Arabic, in addition to two short story collections. He’s a professor at the University of Paris VIII, and has previously served as the director of the National Library of Algeria, in Algiers since 2002 till 2008. He writes in both Arabic and French languages.
2. Amine Moumine, Associate Professor, Hassan II Mohammedia, Casablanca University and General Director, Moulay Rachid Cultural Centre, Morocco
moumine@menara.ma
Dr. Amine Moumine is Associate Professor at Hassan II Mohammedia/Casablanca University and the managing Director of the Moulay Rachid Cultural Centre. Dr. Moumine is an active member of the Academic Committee of the Faculty of Letters and Humanities of Casablanca since 2002. He is the coordinator of the Moroccan American Studies Program of the university since 2002 and Vice –Dean responsible for cultural and artistic affairs since 2007. Dr Moumine is an international cultural consultant and member of the organizing committee of the International University Theatre Festival of Casablanca. He co-designed Cultural Engineering Program at the University of Casablanca. He is founding member of la Fondation des Arts Vivants, Casablanca, and vice president of Sister Cities International- Morocco.
3. Ammar Kessab, Researcher in Cultural Management, Expert in Cultural Policies, Algeria.
a.kessab@yahoo.fr
Deeply involved in the cultural debate in Morocco, Mr. Ammar Kessab holds an MPhil in Cultural Mediation from Paris III Sorbonne-nouvelle University, an MSc in Cultural Management from Lumières Lyon II University and a BA in Management Sciences from Algiers University. He is currently a researcher/PhD. candidate at the University of Angers where he is completing a doctoral thesis in Cultural Management. Mr. Kessab made several expert reports in cultural policies for international organizations (UNESCO, OCPA, Cultural Resources…). He received in 2009 “The Young Achievers Award ICACD” for his dedicated commitment to culture and development.
4. Andreas Wiesand, Executive Director, European Institute for Comparative Cultural Research ERICarts, Germany.
wiesand@ericarts.nl
Andreas Wiesand is the Executive Director of the European Institute for Comparative Cultural Research (ERICarts). He is also the founder and director of the Centre for Cultural Research/Zentrum für Kulturforschung (ZfKf), Bonn which was founded in 1972. Andreas Wiesand was trained in broadcasting (SWF) and completed his doctoral studies in politics, communication and sociology at Berlin and Hamburg Universities. He is the author or responsible editor of over 30 books and publications on issues related to: political, economic, or legal questions in the arts, literature and media fields; empirical studies on national, European and international cultural development and problems with cultural anthropology. He is professor of arts administration at the State College for Music and Theatre in Hamburg and gives lectures in other academic and cultural institutions throughout Europe. Prof. Dr. Wiesand has served as chairman of the board of the copyright licensing society "Bild Kunst" (Visual Arts/Film), as Honorary Secretary General of the German Arts Council, vice-president of the German Society for Cultural Policy, on the founding board of the European cultural policy network “CIRCLE” and on the board of Deutsche Welle (German overseas Radio/TV).
5. Areej Hijazi, Senior Programmes Analyst / Culture Sector, UNSECO Ramallah Office,Palestine.
a.hijazi@unesco.org
6. Barbara Hewitt, Director British Council Lebanon
Barbara.hewitt@lb.britishcouncil.org
As director of the British Council’s work in Lebanon, Barbara is responsible for building partnerships between the UK and Lebanon in the areas of cultural understanding and exchange, education reform, English language teaching, and social development. Since the mid-90s the British Council’s focus has been on helping to strengthen the foundations of the Lebanese arts scene, whether in the performing arts, music or design, through trusted partnerships with the UK. This includes working with local partners to build on the pioneering work of the Creative Industries project. Barbara has previously represented the British Council in Thailand, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Singapore and Nepal.
7. Cas Smithuijsen, Director, The Boekman Foundation, The Netherlands.
C.Smithuijsen@boekman.nl
Cas Smithuijsen has been director of the Boekman Foundation, Study Centre for the Arts, Culture and Related Policy in Amsterdam since 1986. He is a national expert for the Compendium - Cultural Policies and Trends in Europe. He studied sociology at the University of Amsterdam and has written numerous articles on various aspects of cultural policy. He completed a PhD on the relation between performers of classical music and their audiences. Formerly he served on the board of CIRCLE and was Treasurer of this organisation for two terms.
8. Catherine Cornet, Journalist, Babelmed, Italy
catherinecornet@gmail.com
Catherine Cornet has graduated in both Political Sciences and Comparative Literature in Aix-en-Provence, France. She also holds a master degree in Middle Eastern politics and culture from the School of Oriental and African Studies. She's been Babelmed magazine Editorial Coordinator for 6 years and still collaborates to the Italian magazine International reporting on Middle Eastern issues. She's currently preparing a PHD proposal regarding the role of European, American and Arab Foundations in the development of innovative cultural expressions in the ME after the 11th of September 2001.
9. Cato Litangen, Managing Director, MIMETA Centre for Culture and Development, Norway
Cato.Litangen@mimeta.org
Cato Litangen (b: 1963), is the managing director of the only Norwegian civil organization dealing with culture and development issues. MIMETA was established in 2009 as a follow up to the Strømme Foundations’ Culture Initiative, established in 2006. He is a former programme manager of information at the UNEP/ Grid-Arendal and launched the UN year of sports and physical education in Norway in 2005. He joined international cooperation in 2002 after several years within private sector in Norway.
10. Elga Trad, Member of the Executive Committee, Baalbeck International Festival, Lebanon
baalbeck@baalbeck.org.lb
The Baalbeck International Festival (FIB) is the oldest and the most prestigious festival in the Middle East since 1956. It was founded by Camille Chamoun then President of the Republic. It is managed by 12 benevolent members. It is one of the government’s institutions whose mission is to lead and encourage the country cultural, artistic and touristic life. The FIB takes place annually during the months of July and August in the Roman monuments of The Baalbeck Temples surrounded by more than 4000 spectators and tourists each summer. International, prestigious and famous spectacles are scheduled, from Oriental and Lebanese nights, classical music, opera, and ballet to jazz, pop music, and theatre. We already gain a prestigious recognition around the world and we continue our mission in spreading quality performances; and then despite all the turbulences we’ve gone through during the years of wars we still love and aim to spread culture and beauty and offer to our spectators a unique experience of culture and music set amongst magnificent and world class antique monuments.
11. Elham Kallab, Professor in Institute of Fine Arts (Lebanese University) , and Islamo-Christian Studies (Saint-Joseph University), Lebanon
elhamkallab@hotmail.com
Dr. Elham Kallab, holds a Ph.D. in History of Art, Civilizations, and Archeology from The Sorbonne University in Paris. She is a professor in the Institute of Fine Arts in the Lebanese University, and of Islamo-Christian Studies at Saint-Joseph University. Elham is a writer and researcher in Arts, Cross-cultural issues and Education & Gender issues. She’s an active member in many ONG Associations and a member in Byblos Festival, and the National Commission for Lebanese Women. Elham Kallab is the President of the Lebanese University Association, and has previously been the Deputy Director of the International Center of Human Sciences of UNESCO in Byblos.
12. Elizabeth White, Director, British Council, Syria
Elizabeth.White@sy.britishcouncil.org
13. Emad Abou Ghazi, General Secretary of the Supreme Council of Culture, Ministry of Culture, Egypt
emad_a_ghazi@yahoo.com
Emad Abou Ghazi is an Associate professor in the faculty of Arts, Cairo University, in the department of libraries, archives and information science, since 2007. He was born in Cairo, January 3, 1955. He is the secretary general of Supreme Council of Culture since November 2010. He has formerly been the supervisor of the culture committees in the Council since May 1999. He is member of some Egyptian NGO's.
14. Ezzat El Kamhawi, Journalist, the literary periodical Akhbar Al-Adab, Egypt ezzat_elkamhawi@yahoo.com; ezzat_elkamhawi@hotmail.com
Ezzat is a novelist and a journalist. He is the Senior Editor of the most widely circulating Akhbar Al-Adab, a weekly journal dedicated to literature and cultural issues in the Arab World. He was born in 1961 and graduated from the department of journalism in the Faculty of Mass Communications, Cairo University in 1983. elKamhawi was born on 23 December 1961 in Sharqia Governorate, Egypt, before graduating from thanawya amma (equivalent to high school) he had articles published for him on Al Gomhuria newspaper. after graduating from the department of journalism in the Faculty of Mass Communications, Cairo University, he started working for Al-Akhbar, where he helped establish Akhbar Al-Adab 10 years later, a widely known literature magazine, he now writes weekly for Akhbar Al-Adab, Almasry Alyoum, and Al-Quds Al-Arabi.
15. Fatima Azzahrae Shaabani, Researcher in Cultural Policies, Morocco
fatimazzahrae@gmail.com
Fatima Azzahrae Chaabani is a freelance researcher and a cultural activist from Morocco. She received two BA degrees, one in Islamic Studies and the other in Political Science both from Mohammed 5th University in Morocco. She then moved to the UK to obtain an MA degree in Cultural Policy and Management from the School of Cultural Studies at Sheffield Hallam University. After that, Fatima worked for Yale University as a Postgraduate Associate in 2008, where she explored thoroughly the impact of Globalization on the Muslim woman’s practices, attitudes and changing perspectives. Her essay titled Muslim Woman Facing Cultural Globalization was published and awarded the first prize in the research competition at Sharjah International Conference for Muslim Women in the UAE in 2000. Recently, Fatima founded a Cultural association in Rabat to enhance reading, thinking and discussion among raising Moroccan intellectuals. Currently, Fatima is applying for PhD programs in Canadian Universities, as she is planning to move to Canada in a couple of months.
16. Fatin Farahat, Director of Cultural Unit, Ramallah Municipality, Palestine
f.farhat@ramallah.ps
17. Fredrik Uggla, Regional Programme Manager - Democracy and Human Rights; Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA), Egypt
fredrik.uggla@foreign.ministry.se
Fredrik Uggla has worked with development cooperations in Latin America and in the MENA region, with a particular focus on the field of democracy and human rights. He has a Ph. D. in Political Science, and is also an Associate Professor at the Department of Government, Uppsala University (Sweden).
18. Gregor Meiering, Director of the ME office of the Open Society Institute, Jordan
gmeiering@osimena.org
19. Hanan Qassab Hassan, General Manager of Dar Al Assad for Culture & Arts, Syria
kassab.h@gmail.com
Hanan Qassab Hassan (b. Damascus, January 1, 1952) is a prominent Syrian writer and academic. Her father was the prominent lawyer and writer Najat Qassab Hassan. Qassab-Hassan holds a PhD in French literature from the University of Paris III. She is currently the dean of the Higher Institute for Dramatic Arts in Damascus and a professor of Art history at the University of Damascus. She also served as the general secretary of the 2008 Arab Capital of Culture festivity. She has conducted many studies on drama, performing arts, plastic arts and culture and published in academic revues and periodicals. Qassab Hassan works as a consultant and coordinator for cultural activities for the Delegation of the European Commission in Syria and the French Cultural Center in Damascus. She is a member of the redaction committee for 2 reviews of drama and plastic arts, published by the Ministry of Culture in Syria. She is also a correspondent and writer for babelMed, a cultural website financed by the European Commission.
20. Hassan Najmi, Book, Libraries and Archives Director, Ministry of Culture, Morocco.dlbaministereculture@yahoo.fr
21. Hazaa El Barary, Novelist, Ministry of Culture, Jordan
diala_mahmoued@yahoo.com
22. Hekmat El Nowayssa, Poet, Ministry of Culture, Jordan
diala_mahmoued@yahoo.com
23. Hossam Nassar, Culture Minister’s advisor, Ministry of Culture, Egypt
hossam.nassar@idsc.net.eg
24. Jordi Baltà Portolés, Project Coordinator , The Interarts Foundation, Spain
jbalta@interarts.net
Jordi Baltà Portolés works as a researcher and project coordinator at the Interarts Foundation since 2001. His fields of interest include local and regional cultural policies, cultural cooperation in Europe, policies on cultural diversity and cultural participation and the evaluation of cultural policies and projects. Jordi has also coordinated several seminars and conferences and took part in a number of courses and events. He holds a degree in Political Science and Administration (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona), an MA in European Cultural Policy and Administration (University of Warwick) and a Postgraduate Diploma in International Cultural Cooperation Projects (Universitat de Barcelona – Interarts).
25. Joseph Kreidi, Programme Officer, Culture Sector, Focal point for recovery and reconstruction, UNESCO Regional Bureau, Lebanon.
Joseph Kreidi, Senior Programme Officer for Culture at UNESCO Regional Office in Beirut has been working with UNESCO since 1993. He is Canadian born Lebanese and holds a Bachelor of Civil Engineering from the American University of Beirut (AUB-1985) as well as a Master Degree in Urban Planning. Mr. Kreidi contributed to the development of national action and sub-regional, regional and international cooperation in the various fields of culture, including the cultural diversity protection-both tangible and intangible cultural heritage, cultural policies for sustainable development, cultural enterprises and copyright, arts, crafts and design, and the promotion of international legal instruments, including world heritage convention, in cooperation with the international governmental and non-governmental organizations concerned. Mr. Kreidi participated in many regional and international conferences, he has been appointed as a judge in the jury for the International Competition for Landscapes Architecture Students on the occasion of the 37th and 38th IFLA World Congress, participated in the UNESCO Crafts Prizes Fair for the Arab Region and assumed the role of focal point for the Recovery and Reconstruction of Lebanon after 2006 war.
26. Kate Oakley, Visiting Professor, City University and Director of the Cultural Leadership MA, UK
kate.oakley@btopenworld.com
Kate Oakley is a writer and policy analyst, specializing in the creative industries, cultural policy and regional development. She is a Visiting Professor at City University, Department of Cultural Policy and Management, where she is Course Director of the MA in Cultural Leadership. She is also a Visiting Professor in Innovation at the University of the Arts, London.
27. Khalid Khreis, Director General of the Jordan National Gallery of Fine Arts, Jordan.
k.khreis@nationalgallery.org
Ph.D. of Fine Arts, Cum-laude, Faculty of Fine Arts, Barcelona University, Barcelona, Spain, in 1993. Khaled holds an M.A. in Drawing and Painting, Academy of San Jordi, Barcelona, Spain, in 1982 and a B.A. in Art Education, Hilwan University, Cairo, Egypt, in 1978. He studied mural painting, sculpture, and graphic arts from Spain, Italy and Mexico, 1978- 1992. He held more than13 solo exhibition, and participated in more than 90 national and international group exhibitions. He worked in Ministry of Culture, and he also worked as a professor of painting at the Fine Arts Institute, University of Petra and at the University of Jordan. Khries participated in many workshops and conferences in national and international countries. Khaled Khreis is currently the Director General of the Jordan National Gallery of Fine Arts since 2002. Awards: The Commander of the Order of Civil Merit awarded by Spanish King Juan Carlos I, 2004, National Award for excellence in the art 1995, Amman, Jordan and First prize, “Joan Miro” International Contest, Spanish Arab Institute, 1985, Madrid, Spain.
28. Laila hourani, Regional Manager Creativity, British Council, Syria
Laila.Hourani@sy.britishcouncil.org
29. Makhlouf Boukrouh, Researcher in Cultural Policies, Professor at the Faculty of political sciences and information, University of Algiers, Algeria
boukrouhm@gmail.com
Professor at the Faculty of political sciences and information, University of Algiers, graduated from the higher institute of Dramatic Arts and holds a PhD Communication Sciences. He was in charge of cultural and academic organizations such as the Algiers Cultural Center, The Algerian National Theater and the Department of information and Communication Sciences (University of Algiers). He attended training sessions in theater production, radio communication and culture management. He participated in numerous cultural and artistic conferences and events in Algeria and abroad. Boukrouh has also supervised training sessions in cultural management. He has many published books and studies: The Press and the Theater, The Theater and the audiences, Reception and Watching in theater, Oral Communication, Introduction to management of Cultural Organization. He staged and produced a number of theatrical plays.
30. Menha El Batraoui, Theatre Critic, El Ahram Hebdo Newspaper, Egypt
menbat@hotmail.com
Menha El-Batraoui is a Theater Critic in El-Ahram Hebdo newspaper. She is the founder of the first festival for independent theatrical companies, Cairo 1990, Director of three plays and has founded a children theatrical group which lasted for 3 years. Menha is a member in the theatrical juries. Following up on the theatrical activity in Egypt and the Arab countries and is mainly concerned with the theatrical groups and the festivals that operate outside the official organizations. She’s interested in contemporary dancing and art. Interested in the new performances, Menha is trying to have a better understanding of it. Her coming project is to write a book for children (from 10 to 14 years) about Theatre and its genres, how to perform it…, etc, putting into consideration that there are no available books in Arabic literature concerning this subject.
31. Michel Warde, President, Assabil Association, Lebanon
mwarde@yahoo.com
Michele Warde-Fawaz is assistant professor in Sociology at the Saint– Joseph University, and part time lecturer in the Department of Architecture at the American University of Beirut. Her Area of studies is the sociology of cultural production. She is the Executive Director of ASSABIL, Friends of Public Libraries. This Association is a Lebanese NGO founded in 1997 to establish and support public libraries in Lebanon, free and open to everyone. ASSABIL establishes and manages the Beirut municipal public libraries and runs two mobile libraries serving Beirut and its suburbs. Moreover, ASSABIL promotes and supports a network of more than 25 public libraries throughout Lebanon by donating books, organizing training sessions, offering expert advice, and sponsoring educational and cultural activities.
32. Mikhail Gnedovsky, Director, Cultural Policy Institute, Moscow, Russia
Gnedovsky@gmail.com
Mikhail Gnedovsky is currently the Director of the Cultural Policy Institute, a Russian independent agency based in Moscow. He is also Chair of the Board of Trustees, European Museum Forum, a UK-registered charity operating the European Museum of the Year Award, and an expert of the Council of Europe. He has worked in various projects aimed at the promotion of innovative agenda in the cultural field, both in Russia and internationally. Mikhail has been involved in the development of strategies focused around the issues of creative industries, arts and business collaboration, social implications of the arts, etc.
33. Milena Dragićević Šešić, Professor of Cultural Policy and Cultural Management, Cultural Studies and Media Studies, Serbia
msesic@gmail.com
Dr Milena Dragićević Šešić, is a former President of University of Arts, Belgrade and is now Head of the UNESCO Chair in Interculturalism, Art Management and Mediation, professor of Cultural Policy & Cultural Management. She is the president of the Cultural Policy Research Award (ECF, Amsterdam). Milena is a member of the Board of the European Diploma in Cultural Project Management (Marcel Hicter Foundation, Brussels). She is also a member of Art & Culture Sub board of OSI (Soros network). She has formerly been an ENCATC and ELIA Board Member. Guest lecturer: Moscow School of Social and Economical Sciences; CEU Budapest; I.E.P. Grenoble; University Lyon II; Dijon; Iagelonian University Krakow, Jyvaskyla university, Finland, University of Buffalo; Columbia University New York; universities for art & culture: Riga, Tallinn, Vilnius, Skopje, Utrecht...
34. Monika Borgmann, Director, UMAM Documentation and Research, Lebanonmonika.borgmann@gmail.com
35. Moukhtar Kocache, Program Officer, Media, Arts and Culture, Ford Foundation, Egypt
M.Kocache@fordfoundation.org
A curator and arts manager, Moukhtar is Program Officer for Arts and Culture at the Ford Foundation for the MENA region. From 1998 to 2004, he was Director of Programs at the Lower Manhattan Cultural Council, the leading arts council in New York City, which provides services and opportunities to thousands of individual artists and emerging organizations. Some of his projects there included the creation of artist-in-residence programs, exhibitions, lectures, workshops, conferences and projects of art in the public realm. Raised in Lebanon and in France, he relocated to New York in 1995 and to Cairo in 2004. He studied International Relations (with a focus on Diplomacy in the Eastern Mediterranean), and Art History as an undergraduate at the American University in Washington DC, and Art Management and Art History as a graduate student at Columbia University in New York. He has curated, managed and organized exhibitions, and has consulted for and worked with art galleries, museums, not-for-profit organizations and foundations in the U.S., Europe and the Middle East. Moukhtar has taught seminars at university level and has published critical texts in catalogues and periodicals. He has been a keynote speaker at various specialized events and has received awards for his professional standing in the field.
36. Neeme Neeme, Writer and theatre director, researcher in Arts and Education, Lebanon
nehmenehme@hotmail.com
Neeme holds a diploma of high studies in dramatic Arts from the Lebanese University, 1991. He followed many workshops in dramatic arts, education, and Audio-visual arts. Neeme works in the fields of Arts and Education, Radio and Television. He has also acted in many plays. Currently he is the Secretary-General of KHAYAL association for Arts and Education. He wrote many scripts for puppet theatre (Lebanese Puppet Theatre and others); he wrote and directed two plays, wrote and presented many radio programs for children and adults. He is a researcher in the fields of Arts and Education. Neeme has published many articles and studies in Lebanese and Arab newspapers and magazines. He is a Cultural activist, and trains social animators especially in the fields of audio visual uses in education, and Media’s impacts on human behavior.
37. Nermeen Khafagui, Researcher and Archeologist, Egypt
nermeenkk@yahoo.com
Nermeen Khafagui is a researcher and critic who studied Restoration and Egyptology at Cairo University, Faculty of Archeology. She was part of a team that worked to investigate and preserve shrouds and other burial garments in the Royal Mummies Laboratory. She has done research for the Supreme Council of Antiquities, and currently works in restoring inorganic objects at the Coptic Museum. Since 2006, she has been involved in the preparations for the opening of the Grand Egyptian Museum. Nermeen also writes commentary and analysis on culture in Egyptian newspapers and magazines such as Al Qahira, Fikr wa Fann and Afak Al-Masrah.
38. Nina J. Köprülü, President and Director, Joukowsky Family Foundation, USA
ninajk@joukowsky.org
39. Osman Kavala, Chairman of the board, Anadolu Kültür, Turkey
osmankavala@superonline.com
Osman Kavala, born in 1957, graduated from the department of economics of Manchester University after finishing Istanbul Robert Lycee. He took over the management of the Kavala Group of Companies in 1982. Osman Kavala was active in a number of business organizations including Turkish-Polish and Turkish-Greek business councils and the Association of Tourism Investors. He was a founding member of TURSAK (Turkish Audiovisual Cinema Foundation), TEMA (Foundation to Fight Soil Erosion), Helsinki Citizens Association and Thessaloniki based Center for Democracy and Reconciliation in the Southeast Europe. He served on the boards of TESEV, a leading research and advocacy organization and the Open Society Institute- Turkey. He is currently acting as the chair of Anadolu Kultur, a not-for-profit company which was established in 2002 for the promotion of arts and culture through Turkey, particularly in the Eastern Anatolia.
40. Ouafa Belgacem, Researcher in Cultural Policies, Tunis
belwafe@yahoo.com
Ouafa Belgacem is a Regional Funding Coordinator working for Oxfam GB in Mali and Niger. Since 2006, she has been building capacities towards funding and financing cultural projects in various assignments involving multilateral and bilateral project design and coordination. Prior to her work with Oxfam GB, she worked for the European Commission Delegation in Egypt. Previously she was assigned as head of fundraising unit within the Supreme Council of Antiquities of Egypt. Earlier she served as consultant and trainer on cultural heritage sites management. Ouafa Belgacem holds a Master Degree in Ancient Archaeology, a Master Degree in Heritage Area Management and an international MBA.
41. Philipp Goodwin, Global Programme Leader, Creative and Knowledge Economy, British Council, UK
Philip.Goodwin@britishcouncil.org
Dr Philip Goodwin currently leads British Council’s global programme on creative and knowledge economy. Until 2008, he was British Council Regional Director Sub Saharan Africa based in Nairobi, Kenya. He has also held leadership positions for British Council in Uganda, Pakistan and Brussels. Before joining British Council, Dr Goodwin was a policy researcher on poverty issues at the Overseas Development Institute, London and a community development worker in Mali, West Africa. He was a professional musician for six years and continues to write and perform music in his spare time. He is co-author of “From Hippos to Gazelles: How Leaders Create Leaders” with the leadership consultant Tony Page.
42. Rana Yazaji, Programme Manager, Rawafed the Cultural Project of Syria Trust for Development, Syria
yazaji.rana@gmail.com
Rana Yazaji received a diploma in Theatrical Studies from the Higher Institute for Dramatic Arts, Damascus, Syria in 2001. She also earned an MA in Conceptualization and Management of Cultural Projects from Paris III La Sorbonne Nouvelle, and an MA in Dramaturgy and Theatre Direction from Paris. She has worked as a dramaturge and director’s assistant in theatre, as well as a researcher and trainer in socially oriented cultural projects. Yazaji has worked on cultural planning and management as part of the Syrian Ministry of Culture and is currently leading initiatives to support and empower sustainable cultural institutions with Rawafed, The Cultural Project of The Syria Trust for Development.
43. Rani Al Rajji, Studio Beirut, Lebanon
ranialrajji@gmail.com
Rani Al Rajji is an architect, born in Beirut and works in the cultural field since 2004. He started the collective Studio Beirut in 2006 as a responsive to the aftermath of the July war to do pro-active social work on public space to encourage openness between the different communities of Lebanon. Agora, a theater and performing arts production and enhancement platform, is the latest project he’s involved with since 2009.
44. Renata Papsch, Programme Administrator, Anna Lindh Euro-Mediterranean Foundation, Egypt.
renata.papsch@bibalex.org
Renata Papsch is a cultural manager from Austria who has initiated and managed cultural projects in many different countries, especially around the Mediterranean. Since January 2009, she has been working as programme administrator at the Anna Lindh Euro-Mediterranean Foundation for the Dialogue between Cultures (ALF) whose head office is in Alexandria, Egypt. Her responsibilities include the planning and coordination of activities as the Anna Lindh Forum 2010 and the Anna Lindh Festival. Besides that, she is also involved in the follow-up of programmes and projects related to the ALF strategic field “culture”.
45. Rim El Husseiny, Director of Al Mouna Library, Safadi Foundation, Lebanon
admn@safadi-foundation.org
A brief synopsis of the Safadi Foundation:
Safadi foundation is a social organization dedicated to the development of individuals and groups through spreading public awareness about problems that hinder development and human capacity building. Safadi Foundation considers culture as a means of community development; therefore it focuses on promoting innovative cultural, artistic and intellectual initiatives on one hand and collaborates with cultural institutions working on the implementation of joint activities and projects on the other hand. And its objectives are, contributing in highlighting the cultural heritage of Tripoli, and working on promoting it, establishing a permanent cultural platform that combines all segments of society with its different classes, encouraging the participation of the local community in the establishment of cultural and media activities, supporting cultural and artistic institutions and working on the promotion of its developmental role and upholding the principle of intercultural dialogue and the interaction of civilizations.
46. Rim Khatib, Artist and Researcher in Cultural Policies, Syria
rimkhatib1970@yahoo.com
47. Rima Abou Baker, Cultural Program Coordinator, Safadi Foundation, Lebanon
admn@safadi-foundation.org
A brief synopsis of the Safadi Foundation:
Safadi foundation is a social organization dedicated to the development of individuals and groups through spreading public awareness about problems that hinder development and human capacity building. Safadi Foundation considers culture as a means of community development; therefore it focuses on promoting innovative cultural, artistic and intellectual initiatives on one hand and collaborates with cultural institutions working on the implementation of joint activities and projects on the other hand. And its objectives are, contributing in highlighting the cultural heritage of Tripoli, and working on promoting it, establishing a permanent cultural platform that combines all segments of society with its different classes, encouraging the participation of the local community in the establishment of cultural and media activities, supporting cultural and artistic institutions and working on the promotion of its developmental role and upholding the principle of intercultural dialogue and the interaction of civilizations.
48. Rita Azar, Journalist, Lebanon
ritazar@yahoo.com; ritazar@hotmail.com
Rita Azar is a Lebanese journalist who has been covering several fields for 24 years now. She started working during the war; her first published article was a feature about freed hostages. Rita covered afterwards many issues related to events in Lebanon, war fronts, explosions, the displaced, as well as other features related to social issues. After the war, the scope of her writings became wider; she wrote cultural and political reports and interviews, depending on the media institutions that she worked for; she was also in charge of an Internet site specialized in monitoring human rights in Lebanon. Azar worked as well in the conception of TV programs shown on several Lebanese and Arab channels, related to social and cultural issues. Rita Azar also worked in research; her field trip to Kurdistan in Iraq was not the last research project undertaken in this domain. She likes satirical writing and has experienced it in several publications.
49. Ritva Mitchell, Director of research for the Finnish Foundation for Cultural Policy
Research (CUPORE), Finland
ritva.mitchell@cupore.fi
Ritva Mitchell is the director of research for the Finnish Foundation for Cultural Policy Research (CUPORE) and is President of the Board of Governors of the European Institute for Comparative Cultural Research (ERICarts). She is a political scientist who has specialized in cultural research for the past 30 years. She has worked as a researcher at the University of Helsinki, head of research at the Arts Council of Finland, and programme advisor at the Council of Europe. Furthermore she has worked as an expert for the Finnish Minister of Education and Culture, Nordic Council of Ministers, UNESCO, the EU and a number of governments in Europe and Asia. She has authored and edited books and has written numerous articles on cultural development and cultural policies. She has as well given lectures at different Finnish and European universities in cultural studies, particularly on European cultural policies and European integration. Ritva sits on several advisory boards including the Nordic Baltic Platform, the International Intelligence on Culture, and the Fondazione Fitzcarraldo. She has been the president of CIRCLE and of the Orientation Board for the European Diploma in Cultural Management.
50. Robert Palmer, Director of Culture and Cultural and Natural Heritage, Council of Europe, France
Robert.PALMER@coe.int
Robert Palmer has a long-standing reputation in the cultural field as an international cultural advisor, with a focus on cultural policy and development, international cultural projects and festivals, arts management and European cultural cooperation. International specialist in European Capitals of Culture, as the Director of both Glasgow (1990) and Brussels (2000) as Capitals of Culture, advisor to many other European Capitals of Culture, and author of a detailed evaluation study of Cultural Capitals for the European Commission. Among the awards he has received is the Order of Leopold for distinguished service to Belgium, given for his outstanding contribution to cultural life and the UK Award for Arts Regeneration in Cities. He has acted as consultant and advisor to major cultural projects and events in over 20 countries across the world. He has been the advisor on cultural matters to the Department of Culture, Media and Sport (UK), Canadian Heritage, the European Union, the European Cultural Foundation (Amsterdam), The European Federation of Arts and Heritage (EFAH), many different National Cultural Institutes and international cultural networks and agencies. He is currently the Director of Culture and Cultural and Natural Heritage in the Council of Europe, France.
51. Russell Taylor, President and CEO, National Arts Strategies, Washington DC, USA
rtaylor@artstrategies.org
Russell Willis Taylor, President and CEO of National Arts Strategies since January 2001, has extensive senior experience in strategic business planning, financial analysis and planning, and all areas of operational management. Educated in England and America, she served as director of development for the Chicago Museum of Contemporary Art before returning to England in 1985 at the invitation of the English National Opera (ENO) to establish the Company's first fund-raising department. During this time, she also lectured extensively at graduate programs of arts and business management throughout Britain. From 1997 through 2000, she rejoined the ENO as executive director. Mrs. Taylor has held a wide range of managerial and Board posts in the commercial and nonprofit sectors including the advertising agency DMBB; head of corporate relations at Stoll Moss; director of The Arts Foundation; special advisor to the Heritage Board, Singapore; chief executive of Year of Opera and Music Theatre (1997); judge for Creative Britons; and lecturer on business issues and arts administration. She received the Garrett Award for an outstanding contribution to the arts in Britain, the only American to be recognized in this way, and has most recently served on the boards of A&B (Arts and Business), Cambridge Arts Theatre, Arts Research Digest, and Society of London Theatre. Currently serving on the advisory boards of The University Musical Society of the University of Michigan, the 21st Century Trust, The Curtis Institute, and the Center for Nonprofit Excellence in Charlottesville, Mrs. Taylor is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts.
52. Salwa Saniora Baassiri, General Secretary, the Lebanese National Commission for UNESCO (LNCU), Lebanon
cnlu@cyberia.net.lb
Salwa Saniora Baassiri, Secretary-General of the Lebanese National Commission for UNESCO since 1998, has a degree in economics from the American University of Beirut. She is also Head of the Lebanese National Network for Anna Lindh Euro-Mediterranean Foundation for the dialogue between cultures since 2005. Mrs. Baassiri Chaired the General Policies and External Relations Commission at the UNESCO 34th General Conference, and the Social and Human Sciences Commission at the 35th General conference. She is a member of UNESCO’s Intergovernmental bioethics committee for Science and Technology, chairperson of the Arab Ethics committee for science and technology and member of the Lebanese National Consultative Bioethics Committee. Ms Baassiri has a wide-ranging experience in the fields of education, culture, sciences and communication.
53. Samar Dudin, Founder & Director of Takween Open Spaces for Enlightenment & Creativity, Jordan
samar.dudin@ruwwad.jo
Samar Dudin is an independent theatre director and an educational drama specialist since 1995. She is the founder of Takween Open Spaces for Enlightenment & Creativity in Amman- Jordan. Samar's work focuses mainly on creating experiential learning contexts to engage youth and children in exploring pluralism and diversity as the means and meaning for a better world. Her method is based on integrating research, co- authorship, theatre & the arts as healing learning mediums. Samar has a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre Arts from The University of Santa Clara, California. She is a member of The Advisory Committee for the Arab Education Forum, a board member of Al Ballad Theatre, the recipient of the Leadership fellowship from the International Women's Forum, a board member of Jordan's Children's Museum , a board of trustee member of King Abdullah II Fund for Development, a board member of The Royal Film Commission. In July 2009 Samar was appointed as the regional director for Ruwwad a not for profit community empowerment entity founded by Jordanian business entrepreneurs.
54. Samar Jammoul, Assistant, Al Mouna Library, Safadi Foundation, Lebanon
admn@safadi-foundation.org
A brief synopsis of the Safadi Foundation:
Safadi foundation is a social organization dedicated to the development of individuals and groups through spreading public awareness about problems that hinder development and human capacity building. Safadi Foundation considers culture as a means of community development; therefore it focuses on promoting innovative cultural, artistic and intellectual initiatives on one hand and collaborates with cultural institutions working on the implementation of joint activities and projects on the other hand. And its objectives are, contributing in highlighting the cultural heritage of Tripoli, and working on promoting it, establishing a permanent cultural platform that combines all segments of society with its different classes, encouraging the participation of the local community in the establishment of cultural and media activities, supporting cultural and artistic institutions and working on the promotion of its developmental role and upholding the principle of intercultural dialogue and the interaction of civilizations.
55. Samar Martha, Co-founder and Director of Art School Palestine, Palestine
samar@artschoolpalestine.com
Samar Martha is co-founder and Director of “ArtSchool Palestine” and is a freelance curator. Martha has been working with Visiting Arts – London for a number of years on a range of projects across the Middle East including research and consultancy for Professional Development programmes. She is a co-founder of Al Mamal Foundation for Contemporary Art - Jerusalem. Martha has been writing, lecturing and curating exhibitions in the UK and abroad with a particular focus on the Palestinian and Middle Eastern contemporary art practices. She is also the co-curator of the annual Palestine Film Festival taking place at the Barbican Centre- London since 2005. Martha received an MA degree in arts management and cultural policies from City University London.
56. Sandra Dagher, Board Member and Director of Beirut Art Center, Lebanon
sandradagher@beirutartcenter.org
Sandra Dagher is a co-founder, board member and director of Beirut Art Center, a non-profit public space and platform dedicated to contemporary art in Lebanon, which opened in January 2009. Previously, she has been the owner and manager of Espace SD from 2000 to 2007. Espace SD is a private space that presents fine arts exhibitions and a permanent showcase for Lebanese designers. Sandra Dagher was also the co-commissioner and co-curator of the first Pavilion of Lebanon at the Venice Biennale in 2007.
57. Sellama El Ghayam, Professor at the Higher Institute of Dramatic Art and Cultural Entertainment ISADAC, Researcher in the fields of Sociology and Culture, Morocco
el.sellama@hotmail.com
Sellama El Ghayam, a university professor holds a PhD in Sociology, specializing in Culture, Art and Theater Sociology, from the University of Sofa Kliment Ohridsky, Bulgaria in October 1990. She is a professor at the Higher Institute of Dramatic Art and cultural entertainment ISADAC, Ministry of Culture in Rabat, since January 1991, where she teaches Art Sociology and Theater Sociology in the department of Interpretation, and Culture Sociology and Cultural Policies in the department of Cultural Revitalization. Sellama is a researcher in the fields of Sociology and Culture. She participated in several theater and culture forums, in Morocco and abroad.
58. Serhan Ada, Director, Cultural Management Program, Istanbul Bilgi University, Turkey
sada@bilgi.edu.tr
Serhan Ada, Ph.D., is the head of the Cultural Management (BA & MA) Program of Istanbul Bilgi University and is also the coordinator of the Alternative Cultural Policy Report of Turkey working group. Ada has a weekly column on culture in the Turkish daily Radical. His publications include: “Cultural Policy and Management Yearbook”, 2009 (dossier editor), For a New Cultural Policy in “An Introduction to Cultural Policies in Turkey”, 2009, “Emerging Cultural Continent: Actors and Networks”, (co-editor), 2008 and “The Question of Hatay (in Turkish-French Relations, 1918-1939)”, 2005. He is also Vice Chairman of Anadolu Kültür A.Ş. (an independent cultural network).
59. Soufiene Chourabi, Journalist, Tunis
sofinos1@gmail.com
Soufiene Chourabi is a journalist working for Tunisian weekly "Attariq aljadid" since 2007 and as Tunis-based correspondent for Lebanon's "Al Akhbar" and "Menassat" website.
60. Sue Beaumont, Regional Director Near East and North Africa, British Council, Jordan.
sue.beaumont@britishcouncil.org.jo
Sue Beaumont has worked for the British Council in Jordan, India, Uganda, Pakistan and London where her most recent job was as Director of Corporate Planning and Performance. Sue took up her role as Regional Director for the Near East and North Africa in June 2009 and is working on understanding what cultural relations means to peoples in the region and how to build on this to develop closer cultural relationships with the United Kingdom. Her main focus is on intercultural dialogue and mutually beneficial partnerships and programmes in English, education, society, knowledge and creativity.
61. Waseem Ibraheem, Journalist, Syria
wasaibraheem@yahoo.com
Waseem Ibraheem graduated from the Media Department at the University of Damascus in 2003, and since then he has been working as a journalist. Waseem has been working as a freelance correspondent for different Medias from Damascus, for which he continues working from Brussels, where he resides since the midsummer of 2009. He writes for several pages of the Lebanese newspaper As-Safir, since 2004. Waseem’s writings cover political, cultural and social topics, as well as contributions to the weekly “Youth” page. Since the end of 2006, I have been writing for the in London published newspaper Al-Hayat, where my articles are published in the Art and the Media page. In 2007 I started to cover cultural events for the Arabic Desk of the French News Agency (AFP).
62. Watfa Hamadi, Assistant Professor, Department of Arabic language, Faculty of Arts, Lebanese University, Lebanon and the Higher Institute of Dramatic Arts, and Cultural Policy Researcher, Kuwait.
whamadi@hotmail.com
63. Xavier Troussard, Head of Culture Policy and Intercultural Dialogue Unit, European Commission, Belgium.
Xavier.Troussard@ec.europa.eu
Xavier Troussard holds MA in Law and General Administration (University of Rennes – International and European Law) and Postgraduate degree in European Law (Diploma of High European Studies – College of Europe). In 1989 he began his career as Adviser for horizontal and international aspects of culture, Administrator and Deputy Head of Audiovisual Policy Unit at the European Commission till 2004. Xavier represented the European Commission in the negotiation of the UNESCO convention on the protection and promotion of the diversity of cultural expressions and was in charge of preparing and negotiating the Decision establishing the 2008 Year of Intercultural Dialogue. He is currently working in Directorate General Education and Culture (EAC), Direction Culture, Multilinguism and Communication, as the Head of Unit Culture policy and Intercultural dialogue at European Commission.
64. Yahya Yakhluf, Head of Higher Council for Art and Education, Palestine .
info@c-palestine.org
Yahya Yakhluf is a Palestinian author and novelist. He joined the ranks of the Palestinian Liberation Organization in 1967 and held several political, media, and cultural positions. He has been elected in 1980 as a Secretary-General of the General Union of Palestinian Writers and Journalists, and a Deputy Secretary-General of the Federation of Arab writers. Yahya took many cultural sites, including General Director of the Cultural Department of the PLO, and the President of the Supreme Council for Education, Culture and Science. Yakhluf has been the Minister of Culture of the Palestinian National Authority between the years 2003 to 2006. He is also a member of the National Council, and a member of the Central Council of the PLO. Yahya is a board member of the Executive Board of the National Council of Arab culture and also a member of the Executive Council of the Arab Organization for Education, Culture and Science (ALECSO). He headed the delegation of Palestine to many conferences of the Islamic Educational Organization, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO). Yakhluf also headed the Palestinian delegation to many conferences of the Organization of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Issued a number of business stories and novels, and won his novel (Lake behind the wind) Palestinian Prize for Literature in 2000. He is now the head of the Palestinian National Commission for Education, Culture and Science. Yahya has been the president of the Arab Committee for the preparation of the future work plan of the Arab Organization for Education, Culture and Science (ALECSO) from 2011 to 2016.
65. Zeina Arida, Director, Arab Image Foundation, Lebanon.
zeina.arida@fai.org.lb
Zeina Arida is a Member and Director of the Arab Image Foundation, a non-profit organization based in Beirut. Zeina was born in Beirut in 1970 and was educated in Beirut and Paris. She studied literature and theatre at the Sorbonne in Paris and graduated in 1993. Returning to Beirut, she was involved in several cultural projects and in 1997 she participated in the setup and launch of the Arab Image Foundation. Since then she is the Director of the organization. Zeina also serves as Board member of the Arab Fund for Arts and Culture since its inception in 2006.
66. Zeinab Farhat, Cultural Expert, Manager of El Teatro, Tunis.
zeyneb.farhat@elteatro.net
Zeyneb Farhat is a senior consultant, renowned in several cultural fields. She organizes and designs national and international cultural events especially in the Arab and Mediterranean regions. She is a founding member of the euro Mediterranean network platform of the Women Artists FanaNet, and also a founding member and a vice-president for 6 years of DBM (Dancing in the Mediterranean Basin). Zeinab has previously been the President of the Tunisian Coalition of Cultural Diversity. She graduated from the Institute of Press and Information Sciences in Tunis and holds a diploma in Library and Information science, from the Institute of Press and Information Sciences (IPSI), Tunis. Since 1988 till now Zeinab Farhat has been the Manager in charge of EL TEATRO independent art and creation space in Tunis.
Organizers
1. Basma El Husseiny, Culture Resource (Al Mawred Al Thaqafy)
b.elhusseiny@mawred.org
Basma El Husseiny is an arts manager and a cultural activist who has been involved in supporting independent cultural projects and organizations in the Arab region for the past 20 years. Basma was previously the Media, Arts & Culture Program Officer for the Ford Foundation in the Middle East and North Africa, and the Arts Manager of the British Council in Egypt. Basma has also worked as a theatre director, scriptwriter, organizer of cultural events and arts critic and reviewer. She is also active in the women's rights movement in Egypt and has initiated and participated in campaigns to enhance women's participation in public life. Basma El Husseiny is currently the managing director of Al Mawred Al Thaqafy (Culture Resource), a regional non-profit organization that aims at supporting young artists and writers, and stimulating cultural exchange within the region and with the world. She has also co-founded, and is a trustee of the Arab Fund for Arts & Culture, an independent regional foundation.
2. Hanan Hajj Ali, Culture Resource (Al Mawred Al Thaqafy)
h.hajali@mawred.org
3. Lyne Sneige, British Council
Lyne.Sneige@lb.britishcouncil.org
Lyne holds a Masters Degree in sociology and communications from the American University of Beirut. She has worked for the British Council in Lebanon since the late 90s as a senior member of staff in the office overlooking programmes in Arts, Education and Governance, advising on strategy and building a strong network and presence for the office. She then moved on to covering a wider remit and is currently managing projects in Arts and Culture for the Levant and North Africa region. Before working for the Council in Beirut, Lyne worked for a publishing house that specialised in Arabic children’s books. Lyne is trilingual (Arabic, French and English) and has extensive experience in strategy and planning as well as project management. She has over 10 years of work experience in the arts and culture scene in Lebanon and the region. Her interest lies in the development and growth of the arts and culture sector in the Arab World. Lyne is married to Dr. Walid Keyrouz Academic and Researcher in Computer Science, together, they are raising 2 boys. Lyne is a member of the Lebanese League for Women in Business.
4. Marwa Helmy, Culture Resource (Al Mawred Al Thaqafy)
m.helmy@mawred.org
5. Odile Chenal, European Cultural Foundation
OChenal@eurocult.org
6. Philipp Dietchmair, European Cultural Foundation
pdietachmair@eurocult.org
7. Therese Badie, Culture Resource (Al Mawred Al Thaqafy)
th.badie@mawred.org
8. Tsveta Andreeva, European Cultural Foundation
tandreeva@eurocult.org
Tsveta Andreeva works as a Policy Officer at Strategic Programmes & Cultural Policy Development Department of the European Cultural Foundation – Amsterdam. She is in charge of the ECF advocacy and cultural policy monitoring and analysis; contributes to the cultural policy development and capacity building activities and programmes (particularly on the new ECF program for the EU neighbourhood); coordinates a package of activities related to the Cultural Policy Research Award. Before joining the ECF team she worked at the Bulgarian Ministry of Culture as an expert in charge of the relations with intergovernmental organizations (UNESCO, Council of Europe), European affairs and Cultural Contact Point. Compendium co-author for Bulgaria (2004-2008). 2000-2006 she worked as Local coordinator of the ECF/ECUMEST Policies for Culture – an advocacy programme in South-East Europe. Expert and guest lecturer in projects and academic programs in cultural policy & management in the SEE region. Education: MA in Social & Cultural management (University of Economy in Sofia - UNWE). Mastère spécialisé européen en gestion des entreprises culturelles (ECS-Dijon) PhD candidate in Cultural Economics at the UNWE.
