Institutionalisation and Forms of Organisation: Exploring the Role of the Arts in the Syrian Context

Life was launched by Ettijahat – Independent Culture as part of its special tenth anniversary programme. The initiative targets Syrian artists and artistic initiatives, as well as civil, media, and other collectives involved in the Syrian arts sector which have played a central role in building relationships with creators and audiences in their respective locations over the past decade.

The main objective of Life is to examine the role Ettijahat has played in the ten years since its establishment, to reflect on its history and achievements, and to focus on developing frameworks of support to address the shifting challenges facing the art and culture scene in the Arab world and in the diaspora. This initiative was borne out of the belief that the current status quo, with weak state institutions and political, economic, and social instability requires the nourishing of extra-governmental entities that can help strengthen the role of the arts and culture in public life.

To this end, we recall what we stated when we originally launched the initiative. That is, over the past decade, the people of Syria and the rest of the Arab world have witnessed a strong social and political revival, leading to a reconnection and rekindling with several elements of the past, and  influencing in turn current events and those yet to come. Art entities played an active role in these shifts, aiming to contribute to democratic change, whether with people on the ground or through digital platforms that have sought to provide an alternative to the limitations placed on the public sphere. These entities contributed to discussions around freedom, transparency, and creativity, and sought to create academic and artistic platforms for knowledge production, research, and imagination. They also contributed to the formulation of present and future discourses, petitioned for public and individual rights, and promoted counter-narratives to patriarchy, stereotyping, and exclusionary politics based on ethnicity, religion, gender identity, or other identifying factors. Today, there is an even greater need for such entities, despite being subjugated to environments where security, economic, and health challenges continue to deteriorate.

The first edition of the Life initiative was launched in 2021, providing operational support to fourteen Syrian institutions and collectives who work within the digital field across the Arab world as well as in Turkey and Europe. In 2023, the second edition was launched within the framework of the Ahliyeh initiative to respond to the urgent needs of people affected by the February 2023 earthquake. It empowered seven cultural institutions to collaborate with civil society organisations and provide diverse services to affected communities, in addition to designing a training programme and a framework for following up with the support recipients.

In 2024, Ettijahat transformed the Life initiative into a programme that is open for applications on a periodic basis, especially given the need for continued support for entities and collectives active in the Syrian arts sector, whether in Syria or with the diaspora. In 2024, the Life initiative supported seven cultural entities and institutions with designing their artistic and cultural programmes. These entities are either directly active on the ground in Syria or design programmes that strengthen the links between the independent Syrian cultural scene, the Syrian diaspora, and the Arab world, in alignment with Ettijahat’s strategic plan for 2023-2025. The plan focuses on developing in-kind support for those in Syria and addressing the isolation of its independent artistic scene.

While designing the first edition of Life, we invited researcher Marianna Al-Tabbaa to help us reflect on the meaning of institutionalisation as it applies to the context of our work, our environment, and all the complex layers therein. Al-Tabbaa has followed closely the work of these organisations for over two years. Through a collaborative process with all participant entities, she has attempted, with the publication of this reach paper, to reach a set of definitive conclusions that we hope will lead to a better understanding of their respective roles and the importance of their work and contributions to the scene.

To download and read the publication please click on the attached file below.

   Ettijahat_English_Life Publication