The National newspaper reviews various initiatives from the UAE’s creative community to raise funds for Lebanon.
As Beirut copes with the aftermath of a major explosion that struck the city on Tuesday, the cultural community in the UAE has stepped in to raise funds for the Lebanese Red Cross.
Lebanon’s capital was hit hard by the disaster, leaving at least 157 people dead and thousands injured, missing or homeless. A small but thriving art scene in the city has also been left decimated after the blasts as galleries and museums deal with the wreckage and the difficulty of recovery amid the country’s economic woes.
However, as the rescue and recovery efforts continue, the UAE’s cultural community is offering support through a number of initiatives:
- Gulf Photo Plus is running a print sale (AED 195 each) of Lebanese artist Roi Saade’s work, with the entirety of proceeds to be donated to the Lebanese Red Cross.
- Cinema Akil will be hosting Beirut Relief Screenings on Sunday, August 9 and Friday and Saturday, August 14 and 15. The independent cinema platform in Al Quoz has selected two films by Lebanese directors Nadine Labaki and Ziad Doueiri for the screenings, and proceeds from the tickets (priced at Dh52.50) will go to the Lebanese Red Cross.
- Two Thirds has posted a call out on social media to Beirut design agencies or creative enterprises affected by the disaster, offering to complete any of their outstanding projects so that the teams can focus on recovery efforts.
- Fikra Designs have announced that the coming week’s proceeds from the design services, membership and sales in their cafe and shop, including coffees and branded t-shirts, will be given to a UAE charity that is sending aid to Lebanon.
- Nima Nabavi has created his own fundraising initiative through The Third Line gallery. He created 15 prints of one of his intricate geometric artwork available as a gift, saying that those who donate at least $50 (Dh183) to the Lebanese Red Cross can collect the work from the gallery.
Read the full article on The National.
