In Mar Mikhael

Mar Mikhael is a neighbourhood that is changing. While its inhabitants continue to enjoy its traditional characteristics, young artists, craftsmen and designers have located their trades in former garages. Though this has contributed to Mar Mikhael's appeal, it has also attracted real estate development and nightlife, putting Mar Mikhael's atmosphere under threat.

From 16 to 24 January, GAIA-Heritage is hosting a weeklong event of activities In Mar Mikhael within the EU-funded project MEDNETA (www.medneta.eu) that aims at reinforcing creativity (arts, crafts and design) and enhancing their role in the regeneration of neighbourhoods. The event includes three separate yet joint activities:

§  Exhibition: 'Behind the Object'

17 -24 January

§  Urban Talks, Tours and Activities

17 -18 January

§  Exhibition of Student's Architecture Projects on Mar Mikhael

17- 20 January

§  Toolbox: workshops for artists, craftsmen and designers

22, 23 & 24 January

Launch and Opening

16^th January 2015: 6pm-9pm

Exhibition: Behind the Object

Opening Hours

17^th-18^th January:  12am - 9pm

19^th-24^th January: 3pm - 9pm

Following the 2014 July exhibition at the 'Grande Brasserie du Levant', Gaia-heritage has called Mar Mikhael's artists, craftsmen and designers to a second exhibition.

Behind the Object will present the different creative processes of artists, craftsmen and designers of the neighbourhood. The exhibition will display the two complementary phases of the creative process: imagining and conceiving new concepts and ideas, and transforming them into products.  Participants will be using a variety of media (objects, sketches, photographs, videos, or installations) to explain their process.

Behind the Object will also be hosting two talks where exhibitors will be further explaining their creative process.

Urban Talks, Tours and Activities

17 -18 January

While Mar Mikhael has preserved much of its original character, the neighbourhood remains without public space or gardens and its morphology is beginning to change. Following the conference 'Creativity and Regeneration in Mar Mikhael' (July 2014), In Mar Mikhael will discuss issues of the neighbourhood urban environment in two activities:

• A discovery that will enable neighbourhood visitors to understand its uniqueness as well as its needs and the risks it faces. This will address the neighbourhood's lack of public space and its rising rental prices. The discovery sessions will include talks and tours.

• A workshop where participants will be divided into groups to address the neighbourhood's specific issues and trigger steps for long-term strategies.

The results of these workshops will be presented at the end of the event in an attempt to reinforce the neighbourhood's sense of belonging and diversity.

Exhibition of Student's Architecture Projects on Mar Mikhael

17-20 January

Lebanese architecture schools are taking part in the event by exhibiting on-going and past architectural and urban projects that have studied Mar Mikhael and that have addressed the neighbourhood's challenges and opportunities. Each school will present up to three independent projects or summary boards presenting the work of a studio.

Toolbox: workshop for artists, craftsmen and designers

22, 23 & 24 January

Toolbox is a series of workshops for artists, craftsmen and designers. It will expose creatives to new technologies and innovative techniques; provide them with the needed business, entrepreneurial, and marketing skills; and facilitate collaboration and co-creation between artists, craftsmen and designers.

After the first two days of training, artists, craftsmen and designers will spend a day collaborating to create products and their respective business plans that will be presented to a jury.

By the end of 2015, these products will be further developed between the artists, craftsmen and designers of MEDNETA's partner cities (Athens, Tunis, Valencia, Florence and Hebron) and exhibited around the Mediterranean.