6 th National MoHO Networking Meeting in Lebanon 26 November 2013, 2-5pm Held at the Arab Image Foundation, Beirut Minutes

Transcription

1 6 th National MoHO Networking Meeting in Lebanon 26 November 2013, 2-5pm Held at the Arab Image Foundation, Beirut Minutes Agenda - Review of recent activities - Future of the Modern Heritage Observatory Attendees George Arbid, Arab Center for Architecture Claudine Abdelmassih, Arab Center for Architecture Zeina Arida, Arab Image Foundation Rima Mokaiesh, Arab Image Foundation Sarah Morris, Arab Image Foundation Ralph Nashawaty, Arab Image Foundation Reem Akl, Arab Image Foundation Julia Gyemant, Arab Image Foundation Charbel Saad, Arab Image Foundation Laura Dupuits, Arab Image Foundation Kaoukab Chebaro, American University of Beirut Mona El Hallak, Beit Beirut Lea Morin, Cinematheque de Tanger Nada Itani, Dar al Hayat Yasmine Chemali, The Fouad Debbas Collection Elisabetta Pietrostefani, GAIA Heritage Maria Mounzer, GAIA Heritage Katy Glen Ariane Langlois, Heinrich Boell Stiftung Caecilia Pieri, IFPO Eduardo Navarro Carrion, Instituto Cervantes Nada Awad, Institute for Palestine Studies Loubane Tay, IRAB Cesar Nammour, MACAM Naja Al Achkar, Nadi la Kol el Nas Sara Schaub, Recto Verso Monika Borgmann, UMAM

2 Review of recent activities Members discuss the Modern Heritage Observer and its distribution. Some mention that the Arabic version of the publication does not read very well in the cases where English or French has been translated to Arabic, as some texts are too literal. The Observer can be viewed online in English and Arabic. Future of the MoHO project as a structure Current context Rima Mokaiesh (AIF) explains that the project in its current form will terminate at the end of December There are no current funds to continue the project, she adds, and the four founding project members will no longer lead activities. The project coordination by Heinrich Boell Stiftung will also end. As such the future of the project will depend, she says, on the contributions and commitment of the whole network. Forming of committees Kaoukab Chebaro (AUB) says direction and focus is needed. On which axes will the project continue? She proposes the following: outreach work (lobbying, events, website); technical expertise (training and encouraging specializations); work in the public arena (policy, awareness- raising). Yasmine Chemali (TFDC) concurs with K. Chebaro, stressing that the time has come for the network to work on specific projects, now that it has a fairly strong base. She emphasises that this requires work on the part of all members to have a future. Claudine Abdelmassih (ACA) agrees that common projects are needed. She also proposes a structure resembling the EU commission, where new leaders are elected each year. The suggestion is met with enthusiasm. In line with this proposal, Kaoukab Chebaro (AUB) suggests the creation of committees led by committee coordinators. Rima Mokaiesh (AIF) draws up a list of a possible 7 committees that could contain all network members who wish to volunteer themselves. She offers to coordinate votes and elections to the posts of coordinators for next year through an online vote. They are as follows: - Network coordination - Networking meetings in Lebanon - International Archives Day - Website content - Media presence - Sustainability and fundraising - Trainings 1. Network coordination Zeina Arida (AIF) appreciates the formation of the network, and strongly believes in the benefits it can bring to all members. She states that the project

3 has not yet succeeded in assembling all possible members, and that more should be done to enlarge the network. Lea Morin (CDT) reports on MoHO activities in North Africa. She expresses her enthusiasm for continuing to strengthen MoHO in the African continent, whilst acknowledging the difficulty of doing so without funds, in a context different from Lebanon, where outside of the study of architecture, modern heritage studies and preservation are yet to become as advanced as would be hoped, and the institutions are perhaps not in place to take on large- scale projects in the name of MoHO. She hopes that the network will stay regional in scope, as well as the activities as much as possible, and emphasizes the important role of the website in keeping an international tone even if much of the network is centered in Lebanon. George Arbid (ACA) proposes that all network members continue to support MoHO by raising awareness of the cause through their respective institutions communication channels. Others present agree that awareness- raising remains an important task. 2. Networking meetings in Lebanon Members are keen to continue networking meetings in Lebanon. There is general agreement that the meetings will be hosted by different institutions on rotation, where possible. They agree that networking meetings in other countries should be promoted through the Networking Meetings committee to be set up. 3. International Archives Day (IAD) Zeina Arida (AIF) suggests that commercial backers could be found to support the day, in addition to the Municipality of Beirut. Mona El Hallak (Beit Beirut) suggest to target corporates such as Byblos Bank, who use heritage in their advertising Eduardo Carrion (Instituto Cervantes) suggests approaching TV stations in advance of the day and encouraging and assisting them in preparing packages. Guests agree that next year s IAD celebration should be expanded to include institutions outside of Beirut and across Lebanon. Kaoukab Chebaro (AUB) suggests also celebrating events such as the 100 th anniversary of World War I through the collections of MoHO network members. Claudine Abdelmassih (ACA) suggest for network activities to follow a yearly theme (e.g.: Lebanon in the 1940s ) 4. Website Content Nada Itani (Dar al Hayat) emphasizes the potential of the website to keep raising awareness of modern heritage and encourage research on the subject. George Arbid (ACA) asks how the website can be kept running on a practical level. He proposes that each network member pays a membership subscription to cover the costs of running the site. The issue of who would be responsible for the site s upkeep is also raised. It is proposed to add contact details, other than website addresses, to the online directory of MoHO members.

4 Sarah Morris stresses on the importance of all network members feeding into the website in the future with relevant resources and news, a task that during the current phase of the project has been principally carried out only by the 5 project partners, despite efforts to encourage all network members to contribute. 5. Media presence Mona El Hallak (Beit Beirut) emphasizes the need to target the press more and to seek out opportunities to promote the project and the concept of modern heritage on television. She suggests that the network could help propose a series on modern heritage. The suggestion is met with enthusiasm. 6. Sustainability and Fundraising Fundraising event Loubane Tay (IRAB) proposes a fundraising event. Gaia Heritage argue that it should not be a too arduous task to find funding for the future of the project, and agrees that a fundraising event would be appreciated. Some partners are hesitant about a fundraising event as they are already organizing similar events within their own institutions. Postcard set Mona El Hallak (Beit Beirut) proposes the production of a series of postcards by the network members, to be sold in bookshops such as Antoine in Beirut, to raise funds for the project. Membership Members discuss the idea of an annual membership fee payable by all institutions to cover running costs of the project. Kaoukab Chebaro (AUB) suggests that some of the institutional members would have difficulty finding institutional funding for the membership Legal structure and funding proposals Rima Mokaiesh (AIF) asks if MoHO could register as a legal structure. Members agree that it might be too early for such a step, but acknowledge that a common legal structure would be necessary further down the line if MoHO seeks to raise funds as one entity. Monika Borgmann (UMAM) details some of UMAM s plans to create a parallel structure, in the form of a non- for- profit civil company, to facilitate fundraising for the organization. She also suggests that each organization includes MoHO in their proposals when applying for funding. Zeina Arida (AIF) adds that this could be facilitated by producing readily- available texts and the required specific information. 7. Training George Arbid (ACA) proposes that training workshops could be supported financially by universities or embassies.

5 Other future activities discussed Advancing the study of Modern Heritage Members agree that the website can be useful tool to solidify the concept of modern heritage in the MENA region and raise awareness. Nada Itani (Dar al Hayat) argues that the network should encourage academic research on the subject, that universities need to engage with the subject and publish well- researched, well- referenced papers that will give the project roots to help them reach a wider audience. George Arbid (ACA) responds by asking if such a target could be achieved through publishing more issues of the Modern Heritage Observer, or by producing a book. He mentions that he has already been approached by a publisher interested in publishing the proceedings of November 2013 s symposium, but adds that he prefers to envision a larger project based around the proceedings but expanded. Claudine Abdelmassih (ACA) adds that MoHO should begin to make contact with university departments in the Arab world to encourage and promote the study of Heritage. Caecilia Pieri (IFPO Urban Observatory) mentions that studies in heritage do exist in the region, but are spread out. She supports the idea of a web presence that would find a balance between scholarly articles and reports targeted at the general public. She imagines the platform resembling the Modern Heritage Observer publication content- wise. She suggests an annual publication online and printed, if funds allow. Zeina Arida (AIF) cites the Ibraaz publication, an online journal dedicated to Arab art and culture, as an example of such a project. She suggests that Ibraaz could be interested in partnering with MoHO for a special issue, where Ibraaz would be responsible for the editorial work. Common library catalogue Yasmine Chemali (TFDC) proposes a common online library cataloguing system for all network members with libraries. Suggestion met with enthusiasm. Rima Mokaiesh (AIF) refers to a similar initiative in Egypt, funded by ADEF Sarah Morris (AIF) explains that the AIF is very enthusiastic about such an idea and has been investigating possibilities along with Recto Verso Library. Summary of next steps All network members take on responsibility for the network as of January 2014, led by the elected committee coordinators. All network members will be contacted and asked to vote on the creation of committees and to elect members for the year 2014.