Culture and Art: Lebanon wins the Intercultural Achievement Award in Vienna through the Tiro Association for Arts

The founder of the Lebanese National Theatre, actor and director, Kassem Istanbouli, received the Intercultural Achievement Award (IAA )granted by the Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs, in the presence of the Austrian Ambassador to Lebanon René Paul Amry, through the Arab Culture and Arts Network (ACAN) project, which won the award out of 1,300 competing projects from 87 countries.

The Arab Culture and Arts Network (ACAN), an independent non-profit organization established in 2020 during the Corona pandemic crisis, is an initiative of the Tiro Association for Arts and cultural activists with the aim of networking individuals and cultural and artistic institutions; for cultural solidarity and opening a link and channels for the exchange of events, festivals, experiences in the Arab region.

The Network aims to support creativity and encourage exchange, improve policies that support culture and arts, and activate the role of art and culture in changing societies through free expression, organizing weekly online sessions and webinars, and publishing works, events, and art grants;it includes more than 537 members from 43 countries.

Tiro Association for Arts (TAA), led by youth and volunteers, aims to create free and independent cultural spaces in Lebanon through the rehabilitation of Hamra Cinema, Cinema Stars in Nabatieh, and Cinema Rivoli in Tyre -which turned into the Lebanese National Theatre as the first free theatre and cinema in Lebanon- and the establishment of workshops and artistic training for children and youth, reopening and rehabilitating cultural spaces, organizing festivals, activities and art exhibitions.

TAA is based on programming artistic and educational film shows for children and youth, weaving exchange networks with international festivals, opening an opportunity for young directors to present their films, and introducing the public to the history of cinema and local and international performances.

Among the festivals established by TAA is the Lebanese International Theatrical Festival for Storytelling, Tyre International Musical Festival, Tiro International Film Festival, Tyre International Film Festival for Short Films, Tyre International Festival for Fine Arts, Tyre Cultural Days Festival, Lebanon International Theatre Festival for Women’s Monodrama, and Lebanon International Theatre Festival for Contemporary Dance.

Cortesía para con ACERCANDO NACIONES