Arab Image Foundation

The Arab Image Foundation (AIF) was created in 1997 by a group of Arab photographers, video-artists and curators. The Foundation is a not-for-profit organisation established in Beirut with the goal of locating, collecting, preserving, interpreting and presenting the photographic heritage of the Middle East, North Africa and the Arab diaspora from the mid 19th century to the present.

The Foundation was established with the primary purpose of creating a space for the representation of Arabs by Arabs. In this manner, either consciously or not, the Foundation provides an alternative to the Orientalist tendencies of prevailing representations of this region and its people.

Through the important research work that the Arab Image Foundation has conducted over the course of the past 10 years, the history of Arab photography has been gradually documented and shared with the rest of the world. Indeed since its creation, the AIF has played the role of "keeper" and promoter of an essential and largely unknown cultural heritage.

It should be noted that while its focus is the Arab world and its diaspora, the Foundation’s conception of "the region" is a fluid one – incorporating lands as diverse as Afghanistan, Cyprus, Iran and Turkey. The Arab Image Foundation aims to make its collection accessible to the public through the wide spectrum of activities it initiates, among which are exhibitions, publications, videos, a website and an online image database. It also seeks to further encourage critical approaches to reading and interpreting photographs.  

Period
Arab Image Foundation, Network Partner from the 1st of January 2008 till the 31st of December 2010. AIF receives the amount of 180.100 Euros for this period of three years.  

Website
www.fai.org.lb

 

Rashidiyeh camp, Lebanon, August 200. Fathima Khayed, 11 years old. Palestinian refugee camps project. Arab Image Foundation

Hashem el Madani.Castle of Saint-Louis,Murex hill, Saida, 1949. Mustapha el Asseer. Collection: H. el Madani / AIF. Copyright © AIF www.fai.org.lb

Network Partnerships

The Prince Claus Fund has an extensive international network of individuals and organisations. With a select number of organisations that are active in various cultural fields around the world, the Fund has forged formal long term agreements to work together.

Each year two network partners are chosen by the Prince Claus Fund. The selection is made by the Prince Claus Fund and its international board of advisors. No open applications are accepted for this programme.
Read more about the Network Partnerships

For information on the Network programme please contact Joumana El Zein J.elzein@princeclausfund.nl

Website

www.fai.org.lb