Shortly after the start of Lebanon's "thawra" (revolution) on October 17, 2019, the country's cultural sector announnced an Open Strike, which UMAM D&R immediately participated in by closing two exhibtions, Haret Hreik - Mleeta and TripoliScope, along with signing the following statement:

In solidarity with and participation in the popular uprisings taking place across Lebanon against the current systems of power, we the undersigned cultural organizations and structures collectively commit to Open Strike, and call for our colleagues in the cultural sector to join us.

Arts and Culture are an integral part of every society, and the expanded space of creative and critical thought is imperative in times of upheaval. The strike is therefore not a withdrawal of the arts and culture from this moment, but rather a suspension of “business as usual”.

In this period, we will maintain minimum necessary administrative and basic operations, with team-members who are willingly fulfilling our respective responsibilities. The strike is also in response to the desires of team members to be on the street, a desire we are legally and ethically bound to.

While on strike, we are connecting with colleagues across sectors and groups to formulate together what we can contribute to the movement. We are part of a national, regional and global desire to dream, think, fight for, enact and embody radical imaginations leading to structural and systemic change. See you on the streets.

Signatures
Arab Image Foundation | The Arab Fund For Arts and Culture - AFAC | Beirut Art Center | The Nicolas Ibrahim Sursock Museum | UMAM Documentation & Research | House of Today | TAP. Temporary Art Platform | Beirut DC | Dar El-Nimer for Arts and Culture | The Hangar | MACAM - Modern And Contemporary Art Museum | Culture Resource (Al Mawred Al Thaqafy) | Metropolis Cinema | Irtijal | Ashkal Alwan | Updating signatures as they come