THE CENTER The Beirut Exhibition Center is a non profit space that provides a collaborative environment for art museums, commercial galleries, artists collective and cultural organizations. Its mission is to promote and develop greater recognition and appreciation of contemporary art throughout Beirut and the region. Exhibitions are drawn from artists projects commissioned especially for the BEC, galleries collaborations and travelling museums shows. The BEC represents one of the most important, challenging and exceptional art spaces in Beirut and Lebanon and is committed to engaging the public in Lebanon and across the region, thus contributing in establishing the capital as a sustainable artistic and cultural resource. Over its 2 years and a half of existence the Beirut Exhibition Center attracted over 50,000 people from Lebanon and abroad. Receiving a lot of solicitation, the center has exhibitions scheduled until end 2014.
THE BUILDING Within its objective to turn the Waterfront District into a major destination, the BEC, formally the Exhibition Hall at the Planet Discovery building on Omar Al Daouk Street, was inaugurated in 2010. The relocation of the Beirut Exhibition Center prompted by Solidere to commission award winning architects Makram El Kadi and Ziad Jamaleddine from L.E.F.T. to adapt the building for contemporary exhibitions. The prefabricated structure was reconfigured and given a contemporary customized skin of corrugated anodized mirror aluminum. The resulting building becomes an index for the growth of the city, a place holder that derives its identity from that of the ever changing context. The city becomes a work of art, an abstract expressionist painting in motion. Beirut finally sees itself in the mirror. A landscape garden designed by award winning Vladimir Djurovic is annexed to the BEC, establishing a new meeting point for art lovers in the capital Beirut. The BEC building made Top Ten list for the Lakov Chernikhov International Prize and was elected as the Design Vanguard for 2010 by the Architectural Record Magazine.
PUBLIC In lieu of a Contemporary and Modern Art museum, the BEC wishes to pay homage to Lebanese heritage through important retrospectives of prominent artists, as well as broaden people s horizons, hosting international exhibitions that were on show in major artistic capitals. Exhibiting six shows a year, the BEC is also a platform for international cultural institutions to discover great Lebanese and regional artists. The public coming to the BEC is very varied, we have Lebanese and international visitors, international and local curators, art collectors as well as art amateurs from all age ranges, and families. On average, we welcome 5,000 visitors per exhibition. A total of 30,000 visitors yearly.
PUBLICATIONS & CHILDREN S BROCHURE PUBLICATIONS With every exhibition we are doing in collaboration with the artist or the curator a publication dedicated to accompany the show we are hosting. We sell on average more than 400 books by exhibition. We also sell books abroad and our publications are present in AUB library for research and archive as reference in the Lebanese art scene. CHILDREN S BROCHURE As the BEC cares a lot about children and transmitting them theloveofart,sincemarch2012,wearedesigningin house and distributing educational and entertaining brochures, for each exhibition,to children coming with their parents or with their schools. We always print brochures in English and in French.
EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS SCHOOL & UNIVERSITY GUIDED TOURS: The BEC reaches out to schools and universities, proposing guided tours and brochures for the young to enhance their visit and knowledge. For every exhibition, many schools and universities are contacted, and we welcome more than 1,000 students. BEC WORKSHOPS FOR THE YOUNG The BEC organizes for each exhibition a cycle of workshop sessions for the young between 6 and 13 years old, where the children learn about the exhibited artists techniques and produce each session a work of their own. We started this program in March 2012. We have up to 20 students per week.
PRESS & MEDIA COVERAGE The BEC receives a important media exposure national and internationally. Local and regional and international newspapers among which The Daily Star, Al Balad, L Orient Le Jour, Al Nahar, Al Akhbar, Al Anwar, Al Safir, Al Hayat, Le Figaro, New York Times, Al Diyar, Al Moustaqbal, Al Liwaa, AL Bank Wal Moustathmir, Aljoumhouriah, AFAC, Al Sharq, Al Massira, Ouyoun... Local and Regional magazines among which Noun, Harper s Bazaar, Femme Magazine, L Officiel, Paris Match, Time Out London, Time Out Beirut, Marie Claire, Agenda Culturel, The National, Canvas, Vogue, Al Hadeel, L Hebdo Magazine, Harmonies, Elle Oriental, Adam Levant, RagMag, ArtAsiaPacific, Le Monde Magazine, La Revue du Liban, Fastco design, Gala, Mondanités, Prestige Websites and blogs among which Beirut.com, Now Lebanon, Beirut Night Life, Iloubnan.info, Art Agenda, Art of the Middle East, Corinne Martin, de 1000 colores, un peu de kilchi, Beirut Pursuit, Me & Beirut Local and international TVs among which LBC, LBCI, Future TV,OTV,NBN,SkyNews,BBCArabia,AbuDhabiTv,NewTv, Orbit, MBC
INTERNATIONAL EXPOSURE The BEC is getting more and more an international exposure through different means: ATTRACTING INTERNATIONAL PROJECTS TO BEIRUT Arabicity, exhibited in Liverpool, England Art From Iraq Today, exhibited in Dubai, UAE Shafic Abboud, exhibited in Paris, France Glasstress, exhibited in Venice, Italy then travelled to New York, Sweden and Latvia Prix Pictet, exhibited around the world CREATING AND PROMOTING EXHIBITIONS BECOMING TRAVELLING SHOWS Rebirth travelled to Brussels at Villa Empain and to London at the Royal College of Art Saloua Raouda Choucair travelling to London at the Tate Modern BUILDING AND DEVELOPING PARTNERSHIPS WITH INTERNATIONAL CULTURAL INSTITUTIONS Venice Projects in Venice, Italy Boghossian Foundation in Brussels, Belgium
THE GARDEN The Garden is an exquisite landscaped garden designed by award winning Vladimir Djurovic annexed to the BEC, establishing a new meeting point for art lovers in the capital Beirut. By designing the space to lie amid a spectacular Japanese Bamboo display while surrounding it by breathtaking views of the Mediterranean sea and Lebanese mountains, the significant setting developed into a unique spot for catering and hosting events of numerous natures. Even though the Garden is initially connected to the Beirut Exhibition Center, the area acts as an independent entity and is not restricted to festivities only related to art or culture.
The Garden may be used for hosting dinners, receptions, ceremonies and shows for various occasions such as birthdays, weddings, galas, or private corporate/personal celebrations.
FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE VISIT OUR WEBSITE WWW.BEIRUTEXHIBITIONCENTER.COM OR EMAIL US AT bec@solidere.com.lb