Culture Resource’s Artistic Board and General Assembly held their annual meetings on 1 and 2 February 2017 in Beirut. Participants discussed and assessed Culture Resource’s activities and programs in 2016 in the foundation’s various programmes, reviewed the budget, and reviewed and approved the plan and projected budget for 2017. They also discussed horizons for developing some of the programmes and how to bring the foundation’s programmes to more Arab countries and to increase the numbers of beneficiaries against the backdrop of the needs and conditions arising from the political, social and economic changes in the Arab region.

As part of this occasion, Culture Resource organised a reception and public event on 1 February at Station Beirut, which featured a performance by Culture Resource grantees, the Egyptian musician, Mustafa Said, and a screening of the short animated film, “Surprise,” by the Jordanian filmmaker, Tariq Rimawi. Speakers at the reception included theatre artists Jad Hakawati and Roaa Bzeih, cofounders of the Minwal Theatre company based in Lebanon, and the Syrian filmmaker, Orwa al-Mokdad, director of  the award-winning film, 300 Miles, who described their experiences with Culture Resource and the impact it had in supporting their artistic careers. The reception was attended by a large number of the Lebanese arts community and Culture Resource’s friends, including partners, supporters, artists, cultural directors and journalists.