Deadline: 12-Feb-21
The Lebanon Solidarity Fund was jointly launched by the Arab Fund for Arts and Culture (AFAC) and Culture Resource (Al-Mawred Al-Thaqafy) in May 2020 to support arts and culture structures in Lebanon during a time of the unprecedented national economic collapse, which was further exacerbated by the global COVID-19 pandemic. The Fund was introduced to try to address some of the pressing needs facing the arts and culture sector in Lebanon.
In the midst of ongoing efforts to repair and rebuild spaces destroyed by the blast, a larger question about the function of the arts and culture sector in Lebanon has arisen. The physical and economic recovery of the sector is accompanied by the need to re-imagine the roles of its institutions, as well as their modes of operation and production, in order for them to survive and stay relevant.
The current challenges of retaining skills and know-how in the country, activating existing spaces and networks, re-thinking and preserving heritage in this post-blast context, and creating new work and collaborations also present a moment for the arts and culture community to articulate new priorities and visions while concretizing the remarkable solidarity they are witnessing.
Focus Areas
Arts and cultural institutions and spaces may apply to one or a combination of two of the following three areas of support:
- Reconstruction: repairs of physical damage caused by the blast to their spaces or replacement of equipment, rehabilitation and rethinking of space and premises, as well as the protection and preservation of archives and collections;
- Institutional: sustaining team members and spaces (salaries and rent), purchasing essential equipment, and covering basic expenses;
- Programmatic: conducting artistic and cultural programming that question the old ways and dare to think and produce differently, contributing to returning vitality to cultural and public spaces and engaging both cultural workers and communities. Collaborations across regions and/or disciplines are highly encouraged.
Eligibility Criteria
This support scheme of a maximum USD 70,000 per entity will benefit cultural spaces and arts and culture institutions based in Lebanon from diverse practices, disciplines, and missions.
- Arts and culture institutions and spaces may apply to one or a combination of two support schemes: reconstruction, institutional, and/or programmatic.
- The fund cannot be used to retroactively cover incurred expenses.
- Support for reconstruction and repairs are restricted to institutions and spaces that were directly affected by the explosion.
- Arts and Cultural institutions that have received the previous institutional support under Solidarity Fund for Arts and Culture Structures in Lebanon may only apply for the reconstruction and/or programmatic support.
- Spaces (galleries, bookstores, libraries, etc.) whose main field of work are arts and culture and with public engagement and/or knowledge creation programs may apply for reconstruction and/or program support.
- The exploration of collaborative options with peer institutions to maximize use of space, share costs, and benefit from combined audiences and cross-discipline programming is highly encouraged.
- Applications for collaborative efforts must be submitted by one institution/space. Information pertaining to the partnering institutions/spaces should be provided in the application in the designated section.
- Any registered or unregistered institutional, cooperative, or commercial structure working in the field of culture and the arts in any region of Lebanon and in any artistic or cultural field may apply to the Solidarity Fund.
- The structure should be in operation for at least three years.
General Guidelines and Submission Process
- A filled application form in Arabic or English along with all the supporting documents required should be submitted on their platforms by 5 pm Beirut time on February 12, 2021.
- Applicants may request support for a maximum of two areas of support: reconstructions/repairs support, institutional support, and program support.
- The maximum grant amount that can be requested is USD 70,000 and can be distributed among two of the three categories as you see fit.
- For your inquiries please contact the program.
Supporting Material
- Brief resumes of three active members of the institution or space. If this is an application for collaboration, resumes of at least two persons from each partner institution/space should be provided.
- Narrative reports (or their equivalence) for 2019 and 2020.
- Budgets for 2019 and 2020 with funding sources.
- Audited financial reports for 2018 and 2019 (if available).
- A projected budget for 2021 with funding sources (specifying if confirmed or anticipated) in USD.
- Any other documents that support your application and allow the jurors to have a better idea about your entity, vision, and strategy.
For more information, visit https://www.arabculturefund.org/Programs/37