Beiruting News

A press conference was held at Hotel Le Gray to announce the program for the 7^th edition of BEIRUT ART FAIR in the presence of H.E. Mr. Raymond Araygi, Minister of Culture, H.E. Mr. Michel Pharaon, Minister of Tourism, Eric Lebas, cultural attaché at the French Embassy, EdoardoCrisafulli, director of the Italian Cultural Institute, StéphaneAttali, director of the EcoleSupérieure des Affaires, Yasser Akkaoui, strategic partner, DialaChoucair, marketing and communication director at Bankmed, the fair's main partner, Joanna Baloglou, head of corporate communication at SociétéGénérale de Banque au Liban, Nada Tawil,head of the group communication department at Byblos Bank, Henry de Danne, trip organizer for French art collectors visiting BEIRUT ART FAIR 2016, Georges Ojeil, Director General of Hotel Le Gray, Laure d'Hauteville, founder and director of the fair, Pascal Odille, artistic director, as well as gallery owners and the media.

In addition to revealing the brightest young talent in ME.NA.SA(Middle East, North Africa, South Asia) region,this year's edition of BEIRUT ART FAIR (15 to 18 September 2016) will also provide a better understanding of the historical trajectory of modernism in the Middle East, all while offering a program rich in visits, encounters and exchanges.

H.E. Mr. Raymond Araygi declared: "What stands out about BEIRUT ART FAIR is the great artistic maturity that has developed over several generations of artists. This fact is supported by the growing success of the fair and by the number of national and international galleries who participate, confirming the important place that Lebanon occupies on the regional and international art scene. In addition to the dynamism and creativity of the Lebanese artistic community, I define'cultural resistance' as the will to maintain freedom of expression in the face of the obscurantism that surrounds and threatens us."

H.E. Mr. Michel Pharaon stressed "the importance of BEIRUT ART FAIR, which has become a key event on the cultural map of the region and the world. This rendezvous contributes to the cultural dimension of tourism in Lebanon, which idbased on culture and heritage, and spreads a key message in the region."

Laure d'Hauteville noted that"the art scenes of Beirut, Lebanon, and all the countries that make up the ME.NA.SA. are characterized by an incredible, joyful dynamism. The desire to be a part of this dynamism while promoting and sharing it with the world is what drives everyone taking part in this 7^th edition of BEIRUT ART FAIR."

AN INNOVATIVE VISION FOR BEIRUT ART FAIR'S 2016 PROGRAM

The 2016 edition of BEIRUT ART FAIR consolidates the fair's role as a leader in the promotion of the artistic dynamism of the Levant. This year, the organizers decided to integrate a selection committee comprised of leading art collectors, to set up a new space- REVEALING by SGBL - dedicated to the discovery of the most promising young talents, and to stage a brand new exhibition - LEBANON MODERN!- whichwill honor Lebanese women artists from the modernist period in Lebanon (1945-1975), showcasing the strength and creative energy of important figures who are often unknown to the broader public. In this perspective, Pascal Odillepointed out "the large number of women whomarked and influenced the artistic landscape in Lebanon from the end of the Second World War to the 1970s. In their own way, they dismantled existing codes and won for their successors the ability to become a part of contemporary history."

The selection committee for the 2016 edition of BEIRUT ART FAIR includes the most important art collectors in Lebanon: Mr. Basel Dalloul, a specialist in information technology and the initiator of a revolutionary approach to internet services in underserved areas - specifically Africa and the Middle East - around the world, and a leading art collector in the region; Mr. TarekNahas, a business lawyer and a photography enthusiast whose photographic collections are exposed in Lebanon and Paris; and Mr. Abraham Karabajakian, a Lebanese art collector and businessman who is regularly invited to head contemporary art exhibitions worldwide.

Thanks to the support of Bankmed, the fair's main partner, the exhibition LEBANON MODERN!willoffer an opportunity to discover the works of Lebanese woman artists who injected the Lebanese art scene with a tremendous dynamism, creating significant links between their country and the rest of the world.

"Bankmedhas supported BEIRUT ART FAIR since its inception, recognizing the importance of culture and the values conveyed by this event. Our mission is to support the growth of such long-term development initiatives," stated DialaChoucair, marketing and communication director at Bankmed.

REVEALING by SGBL is a new space dedicated to the discovery of the ME.NA.SA region's most promising young artists. REVEALING by SGBL will enable selected galleries to showcase an artist of especially promising talent, offering privileged access for collectors and fairgoers and favoring the creation of professional contacts among the various actors present at the fair.

Joanna Baloglou, head of corporate communication at SociétéGénérale de Banque au Liban (SGBL), said: "Confirming our constant support for emerging talents and for the new generation of artists, and by allowing these gifted artists to meet the numerous and varied audiences of BEIRUT ART FAIR, SGBL aims, through REVEALING, to enlarge horizons, to stimulate curiosity and to encourage awareness of this bold and daring creative scene, which is free, brilliant and booming in the region".

Byblos Bank is celebrating five successful and continuous years of the BYBLOS BANK AWARD, which aims to give young Lebanese photographers privileged access to the main players in the art market. For this edition, Byblos Bank and BEIRUT ART FAIR invite the French-Algerian photographer HalidaBoughriet to work with five young photographers selected from the finalists of previous editions of the fair. Together they will produce a joint work to be presented to the public in a dedicated space at BEIRUT ART FAIR 2016.

Nada Tawil, Head of Group Communication Department at Byblos Bank said: "Over the course of 5 years, the Byblos Bank Award for photography has become the most prestigious award for photography in Lebanon." She added: "5 years of success, is also 5 years of devotion from emerging Lebanese photographers, 5 years of trust with experts in the field, 5 years of cooperation with the media, and 5 years of work with jury members from different parts of the world."

True to its sense of hospitality, tradition and sharing, BEIRUT ART FAIR will offer an exceptional VIP program including visits to landmark Lebanese cultural projects the company of a number of their founders, initiators, architects and directors.

As part of its series of luxury trips timed to coincide with major contemporary art fairs, Privilèges Voyages, represented by art collectorHenry de Danne and the GalerieBeaudoinLebon - are organizing a trip during the 7th edition of BEIRUT ART FAIR dedicated to the contemporary art scene and cultural heritage of Lebanon. This program is presented in partnership with Volver agency in Beirut and the Lebanese Tourism Office in Paris.

MACAM (Modern and Contemporary Art Museum) is participating in BEIRUT ART FAIR for the first time, presenting a collection of sculptures by Lebanese artists and a selection of art books.

BEIRUT ART WEEK 2016

From 13 to 20 September, the 4^th edition of BEIRUT ART WEEK will bring contemporary art to the heart of Beirut, inviting artists to express themselves in the urban landscape of the capital.

Public spaces and downtown shops will be transformed into spaces for artistic creation in a way that highlights Beirut's cultural heritage.

This unique itinerary is supported by the Ministry of Culture, the Ministry of Tourism, the Municipality of Beirut and Solidere.