Mediterranean cultural network to promote creativity in the arts, crafts and design

for communities’ regeneration in historical cities - MEDNETA

KICK-OFF MEETING Athens, January 30, 2014

Partner 6: GAIA-heritage (s.a.l.) Contact  details:  Georges  Zouain,  Principal  of  Gaia-­‐heritage,    +961  3  634  310,  +961  1  44  88  84      gszouain@gaia-­‐heritage.com  

Who are We?

•  Beirut-based consultancy company –  Management of cultural and natural heritage and the arts

•  Key Expertise –  Culture and heritage economics –  Culture based urban regeneration –  Regional development –  Museums and art centers conception & implementation

•  Experience with Creative industries –  Creative Economy Report in Arab Countries –  2 surveys in Mar Mikhayel, Beirut: 2010 (partnership with British Council) and

2012.

Who we are?

 UNESCO  Chair  in  cultural  

management        

Rafik  Hariri  University    

Lebanese  American  University  

University  of  Cyprus  

GAIA-­‐heritage  

Polytechnic  University  of  Valencia  

 

Urban  Observatory  

(NGO)  

GAIA-heritages Role in MEDNETA

STEP  1:    -­‐  Research  and  fieldwork  -­‐  Assessment  report  for  Beirut  -­‐  Interviews  with  local  stakeholders    -­‐  Joint  Integrated  Strategy  for  ACDs  revitalizaXon  (WP4)  

STEP  2:    -­‐  Plan  urban  intervenXon  in  a  public  historic  building  -­‐  Organize  Open  workshop  with  selected  stakeholders  (WP5)  

STEP  3:    -­‐  Online  MED  Forum  for  local  stakeholders  -­‐  SelecXon  to  training  programs    -­‐  Organize  3rd  workshop/training  program  (WP6)  

STEP  4:    -­‐  IdenEfy  potenEal  partnerships  for  pilot  cooperaEon  scheme  (WP7)  

STEP  5:    -­‐  Establish  MEDNETA  Observatory  based  on  the  Lab  network*  -­‐  Provide  scheme  for  rotaXng  exhibiXon    -­‐  Organize  the  first  rotaXng  exhibiXon  in  Beirut  (WP3-­‐8)    

•  Leader of WP8 “ACDs Lab Network” •  Increased responsibility in WP3

“Capitalization” and WP6 “Med Forum”.

Beirut and ACDs •  Civil War: Widening gap between Beirut infrastructures and amenities with

urban renewal •  Capital and Companies are flowing in, backed up by a creative youth •  Mar Mikhael: Main creative cluster in Beirut •  Location: North-East of Beirut, near the port

hGp://justmap.it/home.do?mapId=yerlOCLb0tw8  

Mar Mikhael & the Creative Cluster

•  Paradox of creative industries:

!  ACDs’ presence attracted real estate developers

!  Beginning of a gentrification process !  Real estate projects increase rents in

the district !  ACDs consider relocating where rent is

cheaper

Chart 1- New Creative Activities in Mar Mikhael per year (GAIA-heritage 2010)

Source:    hGp://www.lecommercedulevant.com/affaires/immobilier-­‐liban/les-­‐prix-­‐du-­‐foncier-­‐%C3%A0-­‐mar-­‐mikha%C3%ABl/21355  

CreaXve  Cluster  of  Mar  Mikhael

hGp://justmap.it/home.do?mapId=yerlOCLb0tw8  

RecreaXonal  AcXviXes  in  Mar  Mikhael

hGp://justmap.it/home.do?mapId=yerlOCLb0tw8  

Issues  to  Address  

!  Lack of communication and organization among ACDs !  Gentrification going too fast by lack of urban regulations and

protection !  Frenetic real estate speculation

⇒ Leading to possible relocation of ACD cluster before it grows and

develops

How to achieve our objectives?

Senior experts of our network

•  Urban planner (Serge Yazigi)

•  Tourism specialist (Liliane Barakat)

•  …

Stakeholders

•  98 Weeks •  Creative Space

Beirut •  Indyact

Historic buildings

•  Toubaji Buildings & garden

•  The Art Lounge •  Beirut old Railway

station

THANK YOU