The first stone of the Beirut Museum of Art (BeMA) was finally laid last month after years of delays and false starts.
Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati laid the foundation stone in an event that marked the first such major development of its kind in Lebanon since the onset of the economic crisis in 2019.
The building is projected to be complete and open to the public by 2026, financed independently by private donations.
BeMA is a non-profit organisation that was founded in 2017 by Sandra Abou Nader and Rita Nammour dedicated to civil society, social freedoms and the documenting and preservation of Lebanon’s cultural heritage. It’s managed by a 17-member board of directors.
“We started the project maybe seven or eight years ago,” Abou Nader tells The National. “It's a huge project. Some people are saying there's a raft of things to do before coming to a museum in such a country, but we do believe that — in order to create a new tolerant, pacifist, creative generation — we had to continue.”
Architect Amale Andraos agrees with that sentiment. “I think the commitment and dedication that everyone has shown to move the project forward is admirable,” she says. “It has become an act of willful resilience and optimism in itself, and has brought everyone involved closer together to try to contribute a hopeful and positive endeavour for the city, and the belief in its future.”
Despite Lebanon’s long artistic history and extensive archaeological treasures, money for arts and culture is difficult to come by, especially public funding. Political instability and the ongoing economic crisis also obstruct the creative efforts of Lebanese artists trying to work in the country.
The new museum — which will be situated close to the National Museum of Beirut and the site of the so-called Green Line that once divided the city during the Lebanese Civil War — was originally slated to open in 2020. However, the project has been dogged by a series of setbacks and complications.
BeMA’s mission has always stressed community outreach, and a desire to be accessible and inclusive. We wanted to reflect this core mission through the museum’s architecture
Amale Andraos,
architect
The first architect appointed to design the new building, Hala Warde, was dismissed from the project due to “irreconcilable differences” back in 2018, two years after her proposal was selected by an international jury. Although Warde agreed to work pro bono, she insisted production costs be covered and other contributors paid in full.
“We were so happy that [Warde] was the first,” says Abou Nader, “but unfortunately, we were not able to reach an agreement with her. If you want to go forward, you have to stick to the budget.”
In 2019, BeMA’s honorary chairman, Carlos Ghosn — who is related to Abou Nader — was arrested in Japan on charges of financial misconduct, before later escaping to Lebanon as a fugitive.
Then, in 2020, the project was delayed again as Lebanon was ravaged by a crippling financial crisis and the August 4 Beirut port explosion that devastated the Lebanese capital, leaving hundreds dead and causing an estimated $15 billion in property damage, not to mention a global pandemic.
When it does finally open, on display will be works collected by Ministry of Culture, as well about 3,000 pieces of regional and international art, including paintings, sculptures and written works spanning Lebanon’s history as an independent country. An indefinite loan agreement, signed by the BeMA Association and the Lebanese government, will make it the first time this collection will be available for public viewing on the museum’s opening.
“BeMA’s mission has always stressed community outreach, and a desire to be accessible and inclusive,” says Andraos. “We wanted to reflect this core mission through the museum’s architecture while, at the same time, referring back to the architectural and urban heritage of Beirut.
“The result is a thickened envelope of outdoor project rooms, galleries, event and educational spaces and gardens, which transforms the traditionally closed and fortress-like museum facade into a more accessible typology for the museum of the future, dissolving boundaries between inside and outside [and] inviting people of all walks of life to engage directly with the art,” she explains.
Alongside dedicated spaces for education and conservation, the museum will comprise a rooftop garden that will also function as a large playground for children, something that is relatively rare for Beirut.
The temporary exhibition space on the top floor can also double as a performance and event space, allowing the museum to also fulfil the role of a cultural and community centre.
There are many challenges still to overcome before BeMA’s new building will be completed, but this project at least brings with it a promise of positive change for Lebanon. After so many delays and stumbling blocks, this new step forward represents not only a revitalisation of the country’s suffering cultural sector, but also a coming together of its people to create a brighter tomorrow.
“[We] believe that culture is the only way to create an inclusive, tolerant country,” says Abou Nader. “Art is a vehicle of peace. It's a platform all people can gather around, whatever [their] community or the background is. This is why — during this crisis — the project must go forward, in order to create something for the coming generations.”
What went into the film
25 visual effects (VFX) studios
2,150 VFX shots in a film with 2,500 shots
1,000 VFX artists
3,000 technicians
10 Concept artists, 25 3D designers
New sound technology, named 4D SRL
Global state-owned investor ranking by size
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Japan
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Norway
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Canada
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Singapore
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The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
BABYLON
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STAY%2C%20DAUGHTER
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Profile of RentSher
Started: October 2015 in India, November 2016 in UAE
Founders: Harsh Dhand; Vaibhav and Purvashi Doshi
Based: Bangalore, India and Dubai, UAE
Sector: Online rental marketplace
Size: 40 employees
Investment: $2 million
Coal Black Mornings
Brett Anderson
Little Brown Book Group
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
AIDA%20RETURNS
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Bio:
Favourite Quote: Prophet Mohammad's quotes There is reward for kindness to every living thing and A good man treats women with honour
Favourite Hobby: Serving poor people
Favourite Book: The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
Favourite food: Fish and vegetables
Favourite place to visit: London
F1 The Movie
Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Rating: 4/5
Specs
Engine: Electric motor generating 54.2kWh (Cooper SE and Aceman SE), 64.6kW (Countryman All4 SE)
Power: 218hp (Cooper and Aceman), 313hp (Countryman)
Torque: 330Nm (Cooper and Aceman), 494Nm (Countryman)
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh158,000 (Cooper), Dh168,000 (Aceman), Dh190,000 (Countryman)
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Brief scores:
Manchester City 3
Bernardo Silva 16', Sterling 57', Gundogan 79'
Bournemouth 1
Wilson 44'
Man of the match: Leroy Sane (Manchester City)
RESULTS
Catchweight 63.5kg: Shakriyor Juraev (UZB) beat Bahez Khoshnaw (IRQ). Round 3 TKO (body kick)
Lightweight: Nart Abida (JOR) beat Moussa Salih (MAR). Round 1 by rear naked choke
Catchweight 79kg: Laid Zerhouni (ALG) beat Ahmed Saeb (IRQ). Round 1 TKO (punches)
Catchweight 58kg: Omar Al Hussaini (UAE) beat Mohamed Sahabdeen (SLA) Round 1 rear naked choke
Flyweight: Lina Fayyad (JOR) beat Sophia Haddouche (ALG) Round 2 TKO (ground and pound)
Catchweight 80kg: Badreddine Diani (MAR) beat Sofiane Aïssaoui (ALG) Round 2 TKO
Flyweight: Sabriye Sengul (TUR) beat Mona Ftouhi (TUN). Unanimous decision
Middleweight: Kher Khalifa Eshoushan (LIB) beat Essa Basem (JOR). Round 1 rear naked choke
Heavyweight: Mohamed Jumaa (SUD) beat Hassen Rahat (MAR). Round 1 TKO (ground and pound)
Lightweight: Abdullah Mohammad Ali Musalim (UAE beat Omar Emad (EGY). Round 1 triangle choke
Catchweight 62kg: Ali Taleb (IRQ) beat Mohamed El Mesbahi (MAR). Round 2 KO
Catchweight 88kg: Mohamad Osseili (LEB) beat Samir Zaidi (COM). Unanimous decision
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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The specs: 2018 Opel Mokka X
Price, as tested: Dh84,000
Engine: 1.4L, four-cylinder turbo
Transmission: Six-speed auto
Power: 142hp at 4,900rpm
Torque: 200Nm at 1,850rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L / 100km
LILO & STITCH
Starring: Sydney Elizebeth Agudong, Maia Kealoha, Chris Sanders
Director: Dean Fleischer Camp
Rating: 4.5/5
The%20specs
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How Filipinos in the UAE invest
A recent survey of 10,000 Filipino expatriates in the UAE found that 82 per cent have plans to invest, primarily in property. This is significantly higher than the 2014 poll showing only two out of 10 Filipinos planned to invest.
Fifty-five percent said they plan to invest in property, according to the poll conducted by the New Perspective Media Group, organiser of the Philippine Property and Investment Exhibition. Acquiring a franchised business or starting up a small business was preferred by 25 per cent and 15 per cent said they will invest in mutual funds. The rest said they are keen to invest in insurance (3 per cent) and gold (2 per cent).
Of the 5,500 respondents who preferred property as their primary investment, 54 per cent said they plan to make the purchase within the next year. Manila was the top location, preferred by 53 per cent.
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Sole survivors
- Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
- George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
- Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
- Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
If you go...
Fly from Dubai or Abu Dhabi to Chiang Mai in Thailand, via Bangkok, before taking a five-hour bus ride across the Laos border to Huay Xai. The land border crossing at Huay Xai is a well-trodden route, meaning entry is swift, though travellers should be aware of visa requirements for both countries.
Flights from Dubai start at Dh4,000 return with Emirates, while Etihad flights from Abu Dhabi start at Dh2,000. Local buses can be booked in Chiang Mai from around Dh50
MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE – FINAL RECKONING
Director: Christopher McQuarrie
Starring: Tom Cruise, Hayley Atwell, Simon Pegg
Rating: 4/5
THE SPECS
Engine: 4.4-litre V8
Transmission: eight-speed automatic
Power: 523hp
Torque: 750Nm
Price: Dh469,000
