SAFIR Project: Launched by MASSYR, a non-profit association founded in Lebanon in 2015.
SAFIR aims to support young artists from the Middle East. Through two main lines of work :
1- Networking and collaboration with experts in the artistic field, the project provides valuable opportunities for growth.
2- Capacity building for the artists
SAFIR Artist Program: As part of the SAFIR Project, the Artist Program pairs each artist with an artistic expert who serves as their mentor for a six-month period. During this time, artists receive advice and guidance to enhance their capabilities in three key areas:
- Thought Process – provide guidance on how to refine their ideas and concepts and develop the thought process for a new body of work
- Expression – offer support and feedback to help artists efficiently communicate and explain their work to wider audiences and develop a personal narrative
- Outreach – support in accessing International Artist Residencies and International exhibiting opportunities
Eligibility: If you’re a young artist under the age of 40 from the Middle East, consider participating in the Artist Ambassador Project.
To apply, submit your CV along with photos of your artistic creations (including drawings, sculptures, and photography) to the email address info@safirart.org
For any other inquiries about the program, feel free to reach out to the same address: info@safirart.org
Who We Are
SAFIR Executive Committee
Dr.Nader Kabbani, President
Nader Kabbani has over fifteen years’ experience in the non-profit sector. He is currently a Senior Fellow at the Brookings Institution. Before that, he served as the Director of Policy and Research at the Silatech Foundation and Director of the Syrian Development Research Center at the Syria Trust for Development. He has held academic positions with the American University of Beirut and served on the research staff of the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the California State Senate. Kabbani holds a Ph.D. in Economics from Johns Hopkins University, USA.
Hala Khayat, Co-Founder
Hala Khayat, Director and Head of Sales at Christie’s Dubai since 2007, plays a key role in the development of the Middle Eastern art market. She has a Bachelor’s degree in Visual Communications from the Faculty of Fine Arts, Damascus, and a Master’s degree in Design Studies from Central Saint Martin, University of the Arts, London. Khayat was listed as number 70 on the Arabian Business News list of the 100 most powerful Arabs under 40. In addition to her senior role at Christie’s, Khayat lectures on Art History and the art market in the region. She is currently preparing a catalogue Raisonné on Syrian artist Louay Kayyali (1934-1977).
Fathallah Zamroud, Secretary
Fathallah Zamroud, a Beirut-born painter, art scholar and head jewellery designer at Zamroud Ets, studied Interior Architecture at the Lebanese American University in Beirut after which he trained privately in painting and drawing. The artist’s recent paintings echo the violence and misery of war in the region, and were inspired after collecting photographs of sites of destruction and abandonment.
Dima Al Munajed, Executive Director
As an academic, social researcher and management professional, Dima brings to SAFIR over 15 years of experience in building effective partnerships and leading innovative initiatives in both private and NGO sectors across the Middle East region. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Political Studies from the American University of Beirut followed by a Master Degree in Sustainable Development from the University of SOAS in the UK. She is currently completing a doctoral degree in the area of conflict and gender studies at the University of Bonn. Besides being a self-taught artist herself, Dima is passionately committed to making a positive impact to the broader community, and seeks to put that passion into action in SAFIR through her management and research acumen.