June 22, 2023 | 08:00 pm at Barzakh
SAFE SPACES FOR PERFORMING ARTS AND THEIR STRUGGLE AS INSTITUTIONS

with Bassam Abou Diab & Nabil Canaan

This panel will focus on the challenges faced by performing arts institutions in Beirut in creating safe and inclusive spaces for artists and audiences. Speakers will discuss the impact of censorship and surveillance on the ability of institutions to create programming that addresses sensitive issues. They will also examine the role of digital spaces in creating alternative platforms for artistic expression and community building to reach wider audiences. Lastly, we will examine their financial sustainability in a collapsing economy.

Panelists:
Bassam Abou Diab’s professional journey started as an actor and dabke dancer. He received his bachelor’s degree in acting and theater from the Lebanese University and worked as an actor for multiple years. He started to dive into the world of contemporary dance and danced with Maqamat Dance Company for several years, participated in “Takween”, a yearly dance intensive program and had the chance to work with international choreographers.
He created several performances that toured internationally as such as “Palestinian Karma”, “The Siege/L’Assedio”, “Under the Flesh”, “Of What I Remember”, “Eternal”, and “Pina my Love”, among others.
In 2021, he founded Beirut Physical Lab, an organization aiming to support emerging artists in contemporary dance and physical theater by focusing on training, performances, local dance research, and local and international artistic collaborations.

Nabil Canaan is the co-founder and director of Station Beirut and its international art projects. Launched in 2013, the venue champions an “Arts for Change” mission and programs the next generation of visual and live artists from the SWANA region. In 2022, Station launched SHURUQ MUSIC, its flagship platform to amplify music productions from Swana to the world. Shuruq offers artist development, content production, music marketing & booking services.