This summer, three SAFIR Artists (Wissam Al Shaabi, Akil Ahmad and Yamen Youssef) were out of seven artists participating in a four-day digital workshop that took place at Beirut’s Ashkal Alwan. The workshop was organised by Ein el-Fan in collaboration with SAFIR.
In line with one of the three skill sets that SAFIR works to develop in its artists Outreach, the main purpose of the digital workshop was to develop artists’ ability to communicate virtually by growing their technical skills and online presence in order to help them expand their international reach.
Digital Tools Workshop Beirut 2018
The program, led by an international team with expertise in new media for art exposure , emphasised hands on learning. By the end of the workshop artists had worked on building new websites, writing artistic statements, developing their public speaking skills and leveraging their digital profiles.
Dubai, U.A.E. ART DUBAI 2018 – Saturday March 24th marked an important milestone for SAFIR as we launched our NGO for the first time in Dubai. At the event, which took place as a part of Art Dubai Modern’s Misk Lounge in Madinat Jumeirah, we hosted people of interest as well as collectors and art market influencers to have a talk about SAFIR and its aims. One of our co-founders, Hala Khayat, took the time to thoroughly explain to the audience exactly what SAFIR was founded for. She later introduced the artists and ambassadors that have become a part of the SAFIR program so far.
SAFIR Artists, Noor Bahjat, Alaa Sharabi and Juhayda Al BItar – all of whom currently reside in the U.A.E. – went on stage to address the audience regarding their work and how SAFIR has helped them move forward in their artistic careers. They each explained their preferred techniques and how they have evolved since joining the SAFIR family.
Noor Bhajat speaking at the SAFIR Launch
Juhayda Al BItar speaking at the SAFIR launch
Alaa Sharabi speaking at the SAFIR launch
Juhayda Al BItar, Hala Khayat and Lina Attar
Alongside the introduction of the artists, Khayat presented the newly established SAFIR Ambassadors’ Program. Two of SAFIR’s ambassador’s, Jouhayna Samawi and Lina Attar, were in attendance of the event and explained their upcoming plans for to support SAFIR’s capacity building and networking objectives in 2018.
SAFIR Ambassador Mrs. Lina Attar
The first project, led by Beirut based Ambassador, Mrs. Lina Attar, is revolves around enrolment enrolling SAFIR artists in English language classes in Beirut, and following up with them weekly. Attar went on stage to share her experience thus far. The second project, led by Dubai based Mrs. Jouhayna Samawi, will be an event hosted in the aims of growing our network, enhancing outreach and more thoroughly introduce our purpose and goals in the fall of 2018.
SAFIR Cofounder, Hala Khayat, paying tribute to the late Fathallah Zamroud
At the end of the presentation, Khayat dedicated the talk to our late founder Fathallah Zamroud and paid tribute to his legacy. She then addressed the audience on different ways they could support SAFIR by either donating to the cause or dedicating their time to enhance the artists’ experiences.
Much has been done over the past three years when SAFIR was created as a project to support young Syrian artists all over the world and to further the international representation of Syrian and Middle Eastern Art practices.
Today SAFIR works to support 16 young Syrian artists through the creation of workshops, mentorship programs and more recently language scholarships to support their capacity building in three main focus areas: Thought Process, Expression and Outreach.
At the launch, vice president of MASSYR, Hala Khayat, will talk about the progress SAFIR has made so far and its primary role as a non-profit that supports Syrian Artists internationally. Three SAFIR artists currently present in Dubai will also share their experiences and the ways in which SAFIR has helped further the development of their artistic career. And to wrap it off, two of SAFIR’s current Ambassadors will talk about their planned activities for 2018.
