Al-Mawred Al-Thaqafy (Culture Resource) is pleased to announce the appointment of Rasha Salah as its new Director, effective 1 October 2026.
A cultural leader, curator, and long-standing contributor to the cultural sector across the Arab region, Rasha Salah brings more than two decades of experience working with artists, cultural institutions, foundations, and public bodies. Her appointment comes as Mawred prepares its strategic direction for 2027–2031 and looks towards the next chapter of its work across the region and its diaspora.
Rasha Salah has built her career across different parts of the cultural landscape, combining institutional leadership with support for artists, cultural exchange and the development of new platforms and programs. She studied social and cultural development at the University of Bordeaux in France and has since worked across the Arab region in leadership, advisory, and curatorial roles.
Salah served as Executive Director of the Dar El-Nimer Foundation for Arts and Culture in Lebanon, where she contributed to shaping the institution’s mission and vision, led major exhibitions, and developed public programs connecting the institution with diverse communities. At the Arab Fund for Arts and Culture (AFAC), she managed grant programs and developed relationships with artists, cultural practitioners, and partner organizations across the region.
Most recently, Rasha Salah served as Senior Advisor to the Museums Commission in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, overseeing exhibitions and cultural programs that brought the country’s heritage into dialogue with wider regional and international audiences.
Her work has also extended beyond fixed roles in established institutions. Through her collaboration with the European Cultural Relations platform, Rasha Salah contributed to research into the Lebanese art scene and its changing cultural landscape. She also founded the “Iraqism” festival in Lebanon, commissioned by the Rosa Luxemburg Foundation, developing and leading its inaugural edition as a platform for Iraqi artists and their perspectives.
Rasha Salah joins Mawred at an important moment in its development. Following the General Assembly meeting held in Beirut on 9–10 September, the organization is beginning to shape its strategic direction for the coming five years. Her appointment brings together deep regional knowledge, experience across different cultural contexts, and an extensive network of relationships with artists, institutions and cultural practitioners.
In leading Mawred, Rasha Salah will work with its team, partners and cultural communities to strengthen collaboration across the arts and culture sector, support artistic freedom of expression, and further develop the organization’s role and presence across the broader region and its diaspora.
“Building on the strong foundations laid by those before me, I am ready to bring my own experience and vision to the organization’s next chapter, drawing people together around a shared hope that tomorrow, if not easier, may feel a little less lonely.”
– Rasha Salah, Mawred’s Director
“We rely on Rasha Salah’s experience and competence to establish a new phase in which Mawred stands as a beacon of hope and a source of support for those striving to advance the values of freedom, justice, and equality across the Arab region, working alongside our partners to help shape a more compassionate future.”
– Habiba Laloui, President of Mawred’s Artistic Board
