Zeina Arida

First of all, I would like to thank the Getty Foundation and the CIMAM Board for supporting my candidacy and enabling me to attend the CIMAM Annual Conference in Tokyo. As the Director of a very recently re-opened modern and contemporary art Museum in Beirut, the Sursock Museum (sursock.museum), the conference was an opportunity to meet and discuss with professionals from different countries and regions and to hear diverse perspectives on common concerns and challenges. In the context of Beirut where the public sphere is completely absent from an incredibly dynamic contemporary art scene, the question of the role of a museum as a place for debate and exchange of ideas is particularly relevant for the Sursock Museum. Today, after seven years of the Museum’s closure and its recent reopening, within a very Grantees' reports Zeina Arida, Director, Nicolas Ibrahim Sursock Museum, Beirut, Lebanon THE GETTY FOUNDATION unstable and tormented regional political contexts, Beirut is experiencing an unprecedented boom in museums and cultural initiatives that will doubtlessly color and contour its cultural fabric for the years to come. In the wake of such a dramatic development, one of the main questions we ask ourselves as cultural actors is what role can and should museums play? In the case of the Sursock Museum more specifically, how can this institution play the role of a public space where dialogue and debate can take place, and contribute to further shaping the art scene in Lebanon? Patricia Falguières’ brilliant keynote presentation was very inspiring and triggered many issues related to this question. Museums policies (and speculations). The second day’s topic, How has modernism been perceived globally?, introduced by Shigemi Inaga, brought new readings to the history of art and opened up perspectives that go beyond the local and regional challenges we’re currently facing while setting up the new ambitious program of a modern and contemporary art museum in a contested city CIMAM 2015 ANNUAL CONFERENCE REPORT such as Beirut. The CIMAM conference is unique and necessary; it offers not only an intense and rich series of talks and presentations all relevant to our own work and context, but also an opportunity of exchange knowledge and common issues and concerns, creating working relationships and friendships. I was able to meet with many interesting potential future partners whether curators or museum directors, and to nurture on-going professional relationships. Once again, I want to thank the Getty Foundation and CIMAM for giving me the opportunity to participate in this incredible platform.