We’d Like You In The Picture!

The Arab Image Foundation is a registered association in Lebanon and a registered non-profit organization in the United States as a 501(c)3. We rely on the generosity of individuals, foundations, trusts, institutions and corporations to help preserve our collections and make them accessible online to all and through our programmes in Beirut and elsewhere.

Help us preserve and share the collections.

AIF recently relocated to Kantari, a busy neighbourhood in Beirut situated within walking distance from three major universities, several schools, the National Library, and one of the city’s rare public gardens. The space is distributed across three floors allowing space for public projects and gathering areas, offices, preservation and digitisation labs, climate controlled storages, and common library and auditorium.

While we continue to care for the collections and work hard to make them accessible online through our new database and website currently being developed in-house, we are facing unforeseen difficulties. With the precarious economic crisis in Lebanon, we are constantly forced to rethink ways to sustain our operations. In efforts to mitigate energy shortages, we have moved to alternative solar energy systems to power our Cool Storage Rooms. Our solar panels are working and being fully exploited, but the state electricity we are meant to supplement with is inconsistent at best, and often completely non-existent.

Help us move towards energy independence. We need $25,000 to expand our alternative energy system and protect our collections. 

Sustainable energy would also power the common library and the upcoming auditorium. We share, collaborate, and create within these spaces with sister institutions and collectives like Dawawine, The Co-operative of Cinema Professionals, Archive Books, and Public Works Studio. They have contributed books, tables, chairs, and projection equipment to the collective space. While the common library is open and receives visitors every day, we are still finalising the auditorium.

Help us open the shared auditorium for public programming. We need $20,500 to provide seating, sound equipment, and lighting. 

In these very difficult political times, we are all tense, psychologically and emotionally fragile. Providing electricity and developing common spaces is an urgency as we are facing escalating aggression, scarcity of resources and places of refuge.

Ways To Support

How would you like to help? 
 

There are various ways to support the AIF financially. You can make online donations or transfers to our respective accounts in USD and EURO.

We also welcome donations to The Common Library, technical equipment, or other in-kind gifts.

Donate Online

Charitable Donation (US tax exempt)

Become a sustaining friend by supporting us monthly, or make a one time donation.