Culture Resource, in partnership with the British Council, organized “the Podcast Multaqa” in Beirut and online on the 14th and 15th of June 2023. The forum brought together a number of speakers from Egypt, Syria, Lebanon, Tunisia, Palestine and Jordan, encompassing individuals, initiatives and organizations in the Arab region and exile, all interested in promoting and producing podcasts in Arabic on topics related to arts and culture. 

The forum addressed topics and questions related to podcast production, drawing upon various experiences. It also offered valuable insights and practical lessons on producing this medium in the region. The forum comprised 5 sessions: “Understanding audio and its relation to visual and written content”, “A closer look at real-life examples through experiential and contextual perspectives”, “Podcast as a means of communication between the country of origin and exile”, “Challenges and requirements of independent production and its relation to organizations’ production”, and a concluding session titled “The Future of Podcasting”. Furthermore, two parallel sessions were held, allowing participants to further engage in discussions related to the main sessions topics. An additional conversation was held with graphic designer Naji El Mir, focusing on the visual identity of Mudawanat.

The forum closed with a music evening led by the music producer and Mudawanat’s sound producer and mentor, Abdellah Hassak. Forum participants and a number of artistic and cultural institutions attended the event.

Click here to watch the public sessions.