Our Activities
FNF x Studio Madane - From Promises to Actions: Exhibition & Panel Discussion on Political Transformation in the City
In collaboration with Studio Madane, we presented a one-day event in Beirut, 08.07.2023, aimed at igniting conversations around effective change in urban environments and empowering urban communities for political transformation. The exhibition, titled "Beirut River: Portrait & Injection", showcased the effective conversations that took place with the residents which led to grassroots urban strategies, a measurable level of political awareness, a return to the discourse of urban politics to the streets, and needs-based reform strategies.
In collaboration with Studio Madane, we presented a one-day event in Beirut, 08.07.2023, aimed at igniting conversations around effective change in urban environments and empowering urban communities for political transformation. The exhibition, titled "Beirut River: Portrait & Injection," showcased the effective conversations that took place with the residents which led to grassroots urban strategies, a measurable level of political awareness, a return to the discourse of urban politics to the streets, and needs-based reform strategies. Studio Madane's youth working groups, engaged in a talk by activists, which delved into the multifaceted dimensions of urban transformation.
Individuals from all fields explored a dynamic collection of sociopolitical mappings, architectural renders, archives, documentaries, and literature. Studio Madane, with the support of FNF Lebanon, has activated the youth to research and design civic and sociopolitical reform proposals specifically for the Karantina, Beirut River, and Bourj Hammoud radius. The aim of the stations was to present effective strategies that can achieve both small and significant victories, fostering hope and tangible change in the midst of Lebanon's multi-crises.
The exhibition served as a catalyst for action plans and meaningful discussions, sparking conversations among visitors about the future of neighborhoods and the role of civic empowerment for political transformation. It presented an opportunity to envision a Lebanon with human centered, inclusive, and functional institutions. “The direction in which projects should start to head, and this is beginning to reflect in Studio Madane’s work, is that of citizenship empowerment… and the return of ownership in the city,” emphasized panelist Nahida Khalil.
The multimedia exhibition, which conveyed audiovisual documentaries, ethnographic studies, quantitative analysis, photographic archives, presented the work in both print and digital. An interactive panel discussion accompanied this exhibition and it was conducted by Nader Akoum, Nahida Khalil, and Charbel Chaaya. After Nader Akoum had disclosed the answer to the project’s research question, which detailed the necessity for institutional and systemic reform as part of sociopolitical reform, Charbel Chaaya expanded on that note: “residents must mobilize themselves and take stances regarding the needs that they are deprived of… when political parties are held accountable for their stances, or the lack of, pressure will be exerted and change starts to manifest….”
"Amidst the demotivation of the youth, the desperation and deprivation faced by citizens, and the challenges posed by brain drain, this youth-led event stands as a determination to return politics to the street and react with sustainable movements," said Nader Akoum, Founder and Programs Strategist of Studio Madane. "We believe that by empowering urban communities, engaging in meaningful dialogue, and activating ecosystems with pragmatic action plans, we can restore our beloved cities."
If you have not browsed through Studio Madane's urban civic reform proposal, interactive photo-archive, audiovisual ethnographies, and digital co-governance proposal, you may browse and download them from their website and youtube channel.
To view the work exhibited in the ‘Beirut River: Portrait & Injection’ reform research, please visit here.