ITAR Consultants conducted a two-month evaluation of the “Support to Innovative Cultural Venues in Response to the Lebanese Crisis” project, funded by the French Embassy’s cultural department. The project was launched in response to Lebanon’s ongoing crises, exacerbated by the Beirut Port explosion in August 2020, which severely impacted the Lebanese cultural sector.
The initiative aimed to strengthen the capacities of cultural actors by promoting innovative cultural cooperation models that foster social cohesion through community engagement. This project focused on three key cultural initiatives:
- Cinematic Media Hub in Beirut – Supporting the Metropolis association in establishing a national centre for cinema dissemination and education, contributing to the revitalisation of a Beirut district.
- Cultural and Environmental Arts Centre in Akkar – Supporting the creation of a cultural venue in a former silkworm farm in Kobayat, focusing on art and the environment, with an annual programming schedule.
- Arts and Territory Network – Collaborating with the Directorate General of Antiquities (DGA) to support artistic productions in archaeological heritage sites across Lebanon.
Using the OECD DAC criteria, ITAR’s evaluation assessed the relevance, efficiency, impact, and sustainability of the project, providing recommendations for future cultural development initiatives in Lebanon.
