Arab Image Foundation (FAI)

National Network
Liban
Address

Zoghbi Bldg., 4th floor, 337 Gouraud street, Gemmayze
Beirut 1100
Liban

Telephone
+961-1-569373
Fax
+961-1-569374
E-Mail
zen@fai.org.lb
E-Mail (2)
info@fai.org.lb
Organisation Type
Non-Governmental Organization
Year of Establishment
1997
Fields of Activity
  1. Arts
  2. Heritage
General Information
1- AIF has a general assembly constituted by 10 members, and a Board of Director elected every 3 years. The staff is composed by two full timers: one Director and one collection manager, and by two part timers: one archivist and one person responsible for the documentation and data entry. 2- Budgetary resources in a year: 150 000 USD 3- The two main funders of the AIF are the Ford Foundation and the Prince Claus Fund. It has a private partner: Audi Bank, and a committee of private donors. 4- AIF initiates exhibitions and publishes books. Exhibitions tour in the Arab world, in Europe and in the US, with local cultural partner institutions. 5- Depending on the exhibition, it can be museums, galleries, universities, NGO’s etc…
Mission and Objectives

The Arab Image Foundation is a not-for-profit organization that was established in Beirut in 1997 to locate, collect, preserve and present the photographic heritage of the Middle East, North Africa and the Arab Diaspora. The ongoing research of photographs started in 1997 and, until today, covers Lebanon, Syria, Palestine, Jordan, Egypt, Morocco, Iraq, Iran, Mexico, Argentina and Senegal. The collections acquired include 150,000 photographs. The Arab Image Foundation aims to make its collection accessible to the general public through the wide spectrum of activities it initiates, among which are exhibitions, publications, videos, a website and an on-line searchable image database.

Main Projects / Activities

The Arab Image Foundation’s projects and activities fall under three major programs: - Photographic research program: AIF initiates research missions in order to locate and collect photographic material, whether professional photography or anonymous and amateur. - Preservation and collection management program: AIF preserves the photographs by digitizing them and archiving them in a cold storage room. The images are entered and documented in an online database that enables the access to the collection. - Public outreach program: AIF organizes exhibitions and publishes books and produces films in order to make accessible the collection and promote it.

Contact (1) Full Name
Mrs. Zeina Arida
Head of the organisation
Director: Zeina Arida – President: Akram Zaatari
Contact (2) Full Name
Mr. Akram Zaatari