- Title: Palestinian collector opens Beirut cultural center
- Date: 12th May 2016
- Summary: BEIRUT, LEBANON (MAY 11, 2016) (REUTERS) ****WARNING CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** VARIOUS OF ARTS AND CULTURE BUILDING VARIOUS OF SIGN ON BUILDING READING (Arabic and English): 'DAR EL-NIMER FOR ARTS & CULTURE' VARIOUS OF PEOPLE GATHERING AT THE OPENING EVENT OF DAR EL-NIMER FOR ARTS AND CULTURE CENTER (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) FOUNDER OF DAR EL-NIMER, RAMI EL-NIMER, SAYING: "Unfortunately with time and with the wars we faced and are facing now, we are witnessing a significant decline in the cultural role and understanding amongst the Eastern people. We are witnessing a destruction of our cultures, monuments and even our Eastern personalities. Palestinians were the first victims, and I have a very important Palestinian collection of our history in which we are proud, this is a gift to the Palestinian people in Lebanon. The Zionist propaganda was always 'a land without people nor culture', we tell them: ''no, we are the land, the culture and the people''." VARIOUS OF PEOPLE CHATTING DURING THE OPENING EVENT MORE OF PEOPLE GATHERING INSIDE THE BUILDING VARIOUS OF MAN STANDING IN FRONT OF PROJECTIONS ON THE WALL DURING THE OPENING EVENT (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) EXECUTIVE MANAGER OF DAR EL-NIMER, RASHA SALEH, SAYING: "As you can see today, we are opening in an empty space and this is on purpose: (the event is) to announce about Dar el-Nimer, but for people to also have the chance to check out the beauty of this great building, built in 1936 by the architect Lucien Cavro. We wanted the people to first see the building, its beauty and how much it can inspire upcoming artistic and cultural ideas." MORE OF PEOPLE GATHERING INSIDE THE BUILDING (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) EXECUTIVE MANAGER OF DAR EL-NIMER, RASHA SALEH, SAYING: "The first partnership is a great one with the Palestinian Museum that will open in Birzeit on May 18 with their first exhibition abroad at ours, in Dar el-Nimer starting May 25. The exhibition is called 'At the Seams' about the political history of Palestinian embroidery and all the changes of Palestine and its people through the gowns we will see in this exhibition." VARIOUS OF SUFI PERFORMER DURING THE OPENING EVENT PERFORMER FINISHING DANCING WITH PEOPLE APPLAUDING (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) LEBANESE ACTRESS AND DIRECTOR, NIDAL AL-ACHKAR, SAYING: "It is very important that Rami al-Nimer cares about arts and culture, because he is a cultured and open-minded man on all the Arab world and entire world. Second of all, he chose a place with history; he saved a place, building that is like 80 or 90 years old, this is very important. He also executed it in a very beautiful way and opened it (the place) to the public." VARIOUS OF PEOPLE GATHERING (SOUNDBITE) (English) WIFE OF LATE PALESTINIAN WRITER GHASSAN KANAFANI, ANNI KANAFANI, SAYING: "I think it is very very important that there is a place where we speak about Palestinian culture on many different levels, and it is from Lebanon, from Syria, from Palestine; I am sure that there will be coming exhibitions and events from everywhere concerning the Palestinians. And it is also a very important place of advocacy for the Palestinian people." MORE OF THE OPENING EVENT
- Embargoed: 27th May 2016 13:51
- Keywords: Art centre Beirut Lebanon
- Location: BEIRUT, LEBANON
- City: BEIRUT, LEBANON
- Country: Lebanon
- Topics: Art,Arts/Culture/Entertainment
- Reuters ID: LVA0014HI2XJP
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: An art deco building in Beirut's Clemenceau neighbourhood was abuzz on Wednesday (May 11) for the opening of a new cultural centre.
Dar el-Nimer was opened by Palestinian art collector and financier Rami El-Nimer who wanted to dedicate a space for the rich art and heritage from the Palestinian territories and the Levant region.
El-Nimer said that the ongoing conflict and turmoil in the region has had a profound effect on not only the people but also on their identities.
"Unfortunately with time and with the wars we faced and are facing now, we are witnessing a significant decline in the cultural role and understanding amongst the Eastern people. We are witnessing a destruction of our cultures, monuments and even our Eastern personalities. Palestinians were the first victims, and I have a very important Palestinian collection of our history in which we are proud, this is a gift to the Palestinian people in Lebanon. The Zionist propaganda was always 'a land without people nor culture', we tell them: ''no, we are the land, the culture and the people'','' said the Nablus born founder.
The venue was packed with local celebrities and art fans who praised the presence of a showspace like this in the Lebanese capital.
"As you can see today, we are opening in an empty space and this is on purpose: (the event is) to announce about Dar el-Nimer, but for people to also have the chance to check out the beauty of this great building, built in 1936 by the architect Lucien Cavro. We wanted the people to first see the building, its beauty and how much it can inspire upcoming artistic and cultural ideas,'' said the centre's executive manager Rasha Saleh.
"The first partnership is a great one with the Palestinian Museum that will open in Birzeit on May 18 with their first exhibition abroad at ours, in Dar el-Nimer starting May 25. The exhibition is called 'At the Seams' about the political history of Palestinian embroidery and all the changes of Palestine and its people through the gowns we will see in this exhibition,'' she added.
Among those attending Wednesday's opening was Lebanese actress and director Nidal Al-Achkar.
"It is very important that Rami al-Nimer cares about arts and culture, because he is a cultured and open-minded man on all the Arab world and entire world. Second of all, he chose a place with history; he saved a place, building that is like 80 or 90 years old, this is very important. He also executed it in a very beautiful way and opened it (the place) to the public,'' she said.
The centre includes exhibition space, an auditorium, a library, and offices as well as a terrace cafe.
El-Nimer's own private collection is due to go on show here next year from January to mid May in an exhibition entitled 'Midad: A Journey of Arabic Script', curated by el-Nimer. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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