Syrian Culture in Times of Conflict is a series of live, live-streamed and archived discussions hosted in Beirut and Stockholm between 2014 and 2015 and organised by non-profit organisation Sharq.Org and Alexandra Sandels Firma with the support of the Swedish Institute.
A total of 13 panel discussions hosting 45 panellists were held over the course of 13 months. Musical performances, poetry recitals and film screenings showcasing Syrian talent followed many of the discussions. The goal was to encourage and enable offline and online discussion about Syrian culture and identity and provide a framework for understanding the various cultural challenges that Syrian society now faces in light of the conflict.
We encourage you to continue adding to the various streams of discussion through the project’s Facebook group.
All the discussions were video recorded and can be watched at SyrianCulture.Sharq.Org in the original language in which the debate was held (either English or Arabic) or with English or Arabic dubbing.
- Religious extremism within Syrian society: How deep and permanent is the impact?
- Women’s empowerment: How permanent are the recent gains made by Syrian women?
- Can the Syrian diaspora play a role in rebuilding Syrian society?
- Freedom of Expression: How freely can we speak now?
- How does migration affect the outlook and future of Syrian youth?
- Funding culture in times of distress – why support arts & culture when relief efforts are under-funded?
- Preserving musical heritage: Does Syria need its past to build a creative future?
- Preserving artistic identity – How do Western genres influence Syrian voices?
- Can cultural initiatives help heal fractured societies?
- The role of Syrian cultural actors – Do Syrian artists have a duty to reflect the conflict in their works?
- Rebuilding Aleppo – lessons from Beirut and Bosnia
- Patronage & funding for Syrian arts and culture
- Keeping Syrian culture alive in times of conflict
