Beiruting News

As part of its initiatives aimed at harnessing the long-lost art of Arabic
calligraphy and honing young talents' creativity in the field, Khawla Art and Culture Foundation
in partnership with Modern Arabesque Magazine, is curating an artistic and cultural exhibition
by the name of "Al Khatt Festival" on the St. Nicholas stairs in Gemmayzeh. The opening
ceremony took place on Friday the 9 th of July in the presence of the Affairs Officer at the
Embassy of the United Arab Emirates in Lebanon, Mr. Fahd Al Kaabi, representatives of the
embassy and a number of cultural and artistic entities, organizers and media. The exhibition will
run for two consecutive days on July 10 and 11 from 5:00 to 11:00 PM. Despite everything that
has happened in the country, Beirut was chosen for this first exhibition, as the undying symbol
of art and culture in the region. Bringing art back to the city brings life back to the city and
reaffirms Beirut's identity as the cultural hub of the Middle East and the world.
The exhibition aims to revive the cultural life of Beirut and reiterate the true identity of
Lebanon as a cultural and artistic beacon of the Middle East. Participants and art lovers will be
inspired through fascinating works of art and powerful messages, exhibited by four established
Beirut-based calligraphy artists: Fadi Alawayid, Everite Barbee, Rola Dlaykan and Ghaleb Hawila.
Each one of these artists will be presenting different masterpieces with inspiring messages of
hope and freedom that showcase the artistic and cultural jewels of the Arab world. The St.
Nicholas stairs in Gemmayzeh will be transformed into an outdoor gallery where visitors are
encouraged to roam through different the 24 different works of art and explore the paths of
these different artists.
Acting Affairs Officer at the Embassy of the United Arab Emirates in Lebanon, Mr. Fahad Al
Kaabi, said: "The UAE attaches exceptional importance and value to art and culture, therefore it
has developed strategies and provided the necessary infrastructure to create a hub and
destination for artists, shows, and performances. Thanks to this leadership, culture plays an
important role in leading people towards creativity and innovation. Hence institutions in the
fields of publishing and others, including the Khawla Foundation for Culture and Arts, emerged
as an incubator for art and its elements by providing all the necessary ingredients to enrich this
sector and ensure its continuity and diversity."

The representative of Khawla Art and Culture Foundation in Lebanon, Ms. Rayan Hakki, stated:
"Khawla Art and Culture's mission is to preserve and revive the arts and culture in the Arab
world and in the Middle East and especially the art of Arabic Calligraphy.
As we all know that Beirut, Lebanon is known as the city of arts and cultures even with all its
agonies. Our choice of Beirut is to help the country itself get back its spark and its artistic life.
Help the Lebanese, get through the difficulties by giving them hope."
She continues: "So, what better than the St Nicolas Stairs, also called 'Escalier de l'Art', also a
victim of the blast of 4th of August, to be the place of the event, where life will take place again.
Calligraphy is a way for people to communicate, and through our exhibition, we are aiming to
let everyone, young and old to come, gather and communicate through the art of Arabic
Calligraphy."
"Al Khatt Festival" is part of a series of artistic and cultural initiatives that Khawla Art and
Culture Foundation intends to complete in the Arab region as a way to preserve the Arabic
language, consolidate its use and the art of speaking it, and developing young talents to
highlight new artistic know-hows of the Arab world, while also promoting artistic and cultural
development throughout different societies. and Al Khatt Festival" will bring this cultural and
artistic spirit that Beirut needs in order to rise up and return to the cultural map of the world,
reassert its role in the field, and revive hope for life in its people and artists. This exhibition tells
the beautiful story of how art and culture are capable of resurrecting a city in which the love of
life still courses through its veins.