Lebanon’s cultural scene roars back, defying the economic meltdown
After years of dramatic political events and economic struggles, the Lebanese cultural scene is regaining its local footing, reopening museums and launching new ones.
The historic and endeared Sursock Museum in Beirut announced this week that it would reopen its doors in May, more than two years after Beirut port blast devastated the art institution and much of its cherished artworks.
The 19th-century museum was the private villa of Nicolas Sursock, an art collector whose family was a prominent presence on the Lebanese scene and a believer in Lebanon’s artistic significance. According to the museum’s website, Sursock relinquished his property to the Beirut municipality upon his death, to transform it into a cultural haven.
🇱🇧 Sursock Museum to reopen in March https://t.co/mXKxox9pVX
— Karim Emile Bitar (@karimbitar) January 15, 2023
“Architects, artists, and engineers have participated in the recovery of this majestic villa. As the structure itself is being rebuilt, the 57 artworks that were also damaged have been undergoing restoration efforts.” pic.twitter.com/sWRg2oQLZB
