Research: To Strengthen the Culture of Knowledge
The Results of the 10th Edition 2026 – 2027: Cultural Policies in Syria: Unpacking the Legacy of the Past, Building New Possibilities
Boushra Adi & Zeina Shahla | Local Agency within Marginalized Spaces
This research examines Syrian cultural centers as cultural infrastructures distributed across cities and rural areas, yet governed through centralized management and policy frameworks. It explores the relationship between these centers and their local communities, and the ways in which governance structures have shaped their cultural and social roles.
The study combines field surveys, case studies, and interviews with cultural center staff, cultural practitioners, and members of local communities, alongside an analysis of official documents and available archives. Drawing on the concepts of the public sphere and plurality, it examines the transformation of cultural centers across three periods: pre-2011 Syria, the years of conflict, and the present phase.
The research also seeks to propose practical models for decentralized cultural governance that build on existing infrastructure, contributing to the development of cultural policies that strengthen community participation in the management and decision-making processes of cultural spaces.
Enas Alokleh | Post-Conflict Heritage Rehabilitation Policies in Syria and Their Role in Improving Livelihoods in Historic Cities: The Ancient City of Palmyra as a Case Study
This research examines post-conflict heritage rehabilitation policies and their role in improving livelihoods and revitalizing historic cities, taking the ancient city of Palmyra as a case study. Following the extensive destruction that affected both its archaeological remains and residential areas, the study highlights the need for approaches that support residents’ return and utilize cultural heritage as a driver of local development.
The research explores the relationship between heritage preservation and community development by investigating the role of local participation in the management and rehabilitation of archaeological sites, and its impact on strengthening social cohesion and stimulating economic recovery. It also seeks to provide practical recommendations for developing more sustainable and inclusive heritage policies in post-conflict recovery and reconstruction contexts.
Haneen Nizar Khalil | Sensitive Spaces Between Memory and Recovery: Towards a Local Model for Recovery Tourism in Aleppo
This research examines the functional transformations of urban spaces in the city of Aleppo during the years of conflict, when public squares, parks, and buildings shifted from community spaces to temporary burial grounds, field hospitals, and sites associated with violence and loss. It explores the impact of these transformations on the relationship between communities and place, and the tensions that emerge between collective memory and the future use of these spaces.
The study investigates ethical and urban planning approaches for managing these sensitive sites in post-conflict contexts, ensuring their integration into development and tourism processes without overlooking local experiences of loss or commodifying memory. It also seeks to develop a participatory framework and policy recommendations that support community recovery while balancing respect for victims with the revitalization of cultural and urban life.
Jana Ahmad | Cultural Landscapes as Living Laboratories: Activating Local Environmental Knowledge for Climate and Spatial Justice in the Syrian Transitional Context
This research explores the role of local environmental knowledge in addressing the climate and environmental challenges that affect quality of life in Syria amid ongoing reconstruction and transitional processes. It examines the relationship between cultural heritage and environmental sustainability, investigating how intergenerational knowledge can contribute to strengthening community resilience and advancing more inclusive forms of climate and spatial justice.
The study adopts an interdisciplinary approach that brings together climate studies, heritage, and cultural governance through the concept of the “Urban Living Lab” as a space for experimentation and collaborative learning. It seeks to document local environmental knowledge, identify practices applicable to the Syrian context, and develop a framework for integrating this knowledge into public policy in ways that promote sustainability and social cohesion.
Mhd Sarieh AlMidani | Reimagining the Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art in Syria: Museums, Art Collections, and Cultural Decentralization
This research examines the role of museums and art collections in preserving and providing access to the history of modern and contemporary Syrian art, in light of the absence of sustainable institutions capable of collecting, studying, and exhibiting artworks and visual archives. It builds on the transformations that have shaped Syria’s cultural landscape since 2011, including the dispersion of artists and archives, and the emergence of new forms of cultural production beyond traditional institutional frameworks.
Mariam Hamouda | Governing Digital Documentation of Cultural Heritage in Syria: Towards a Policy Framework for Ensuring National Sovereignty and Protecting Documenters’ Rights
This research examines the governance of digital documentation of Syrian cultural heritage in the context of the challenges created by conflict, with a particular focus on digital data sovereignty and the rights of local heritage documenters. It explores the transformations that have shaped documentation practices since 2011, including the growing use of digital technologies and the increasing involvement of international organizations in producing and managing digital heritage archives.
The study draws on an analysis of national legislation and relevant international frameworks, alongside a comparative review of international models for digital data governance and legal deposit systems. It seeks to identify the legislative and institutional gaps affecting the management of digital heritage in Syria and to develop a policy framework that safeguards national ownership of heritage data, protects the rights of documenters, and supports the long-term preservation and accessibility of Syria’s cultural memory.
Razan AL Mahameed | Cultural Governance in Syria: Challenges of Centralized Decision-Making and Legislative Stagnation Towards a Decentralized Model
This research examines cultural governance in Syria by exploring the impact of centralized decision-making and stalled legislative development on the management of cultural affairs and the relationship between cultural institutions and local initiatives. It investigates the transformations that have shaped the cultural sector since 2011, including the emergence of independent initiatives in the absence of governance models capable of coordinating relationships among cultural actors.
The study combines the analysis of policy documents and cultural legislation with interviews conducted with cultural practitioners, experts, and local initiatives. Using intangible cultural heritage legislation as a case study, it explores the challenges related to policymaking, institutional coordination, and community participation. The research also seeks to identify pathways toward a decentralized model of cultural governance that strengthens the role of local communities in managing cultural affairs and shaping cultural policies.
Rezan Farho Mesho & Abbas Ali Mousa | Cultural Policies and Kurdish Cultural Rights in Syria: From Symbolic Recognition to Implementable Cultural Policies
This research examines the status of Kurdish cultural rights in Syria through the lens of cultural policy, exploring pathways for moving from the recognition of cultural diversity as a general principle toward the development of policies, institutions, and mechanisms capable of protecting these rights and ensuring their effective implementation. It focuses on language, education, media, cultural institutions, memory, and heritage as key domains through which cultural rights are expressed and exercised.
The study analyzes the relationship between culture, citizenship, and justice within Syria’s ongoing transformations, while drawing on a comparative examination of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq to better understand processes of institutionalizing cultural rights and their relevance to the Syrian context. It seeks to contribute to broader discussions on cultural policy by proposing more inclusive approaches to managing cultural diversity and fostering citizenship based on equality and mutual recognition.
Sara Nssr | Classical Music in Syria: Institutional Transformations and the Prospects of Cultural Governance in a Transitional Context
This research examines the transformations taking place within the field of classical music in Syria amid ongoing institutional and cultural changes, focusing on the relationship between official music institutions and emerging musical practices beyond them. It seeks to understand how these shifts affect music education and professional opportunities, as well as the potential emergence of new models for musical production within the Syrian context.
The study adopts a qualitative approach based on field interviews and analytical observation of musical experiences both inside and outside formal institutions. It explores the gap between music education and employment opportunities, while analyzing changes in the institutional structure of the musical field. The research also investigates more flexible forms of cultural governance that could strengthen connections between official institutions and independent initiatives.
Sarah Shahid | Cultural Economy and the Cultural Ecosystem in Syria: Towards More Sustainable Models of Cultural Practice
This research examines Syria’s cultural sector through the lens of the cultural economy and cultural ecosystem, focusing on the challenges facing independent cultural initiatives, including limited funding, weak support structures, and the absence of policies that foster sustainability and collaboration among cultural actors.
The study analyzes the Syrian context alongside Arab and international experiences in developing cultural and creative economies, exploring cultural incubators, independent creative spaces, and mechanisms for funding, networking, and capacity building. It seeks to identify pathways for moving from fragmented initiatives toward a more connected and sustainable cultural ecosystem, while offering recommendations that support cultural policy development and strengthen the role of culture in local development.
Statement of the Jury Committee
09 June 2026
The selection committee consisted of theater scholar and researcher Mary Elias, cultural researcher Helena Nassif, and cultural manager and researcher Rana Yazaji. The committee members met on Tuesday, June 9, and concluded the meeting with the following statement:
The jury committee received 50 applications from researchers residing in Syria and across the Arab region and the world. This edition witnessed remarkable diversity in terms of geography, age groups, and research themes. The submitted proposals covered a wide range of issues, including heritage and documentation; public space and its relationship to culture; cultural governance; arts education; theater; music; visual arts; the cultural and creative economy; funding mechanisms; cultural ecosystems; the environment; justice; urbanism; cultural rights; and cultural infrastructure. This reflected the diversity of interests and contexts from which the researchers approached their work.
The committee noted that the majority of proposals focused on examining existing realities and analyzing current cultural policies and practices, while forward-looking approaches and alternative visions were less prevalent. Nevertheless, a number of projects made serious efforts to pose new questions and explore innovative pathways for understanding the challenges facing the Syrian cultural field and its ongoing transformations.
The participation of young researchers also stood out, demonstrating a strong sensitivity to local issues and a clear interest in developing research tools that are more closely connected to the contexts in which they work. The submitted applications reflected a high level of commitment and serious engagement with questions of cultural policy, making the task of selecting 10 proposals extremely difficult given the large number of projects worthy of consideration.
In its evaluation and selection process, the jury took this diversity into account, recognizing the importance of representing different experiences and approaches within the programme. In its final selections, the committee sought to support proposals that combine research quality with thematic and methodological diversity, and that contribute to expanding the understanding of culture as a dynamic, multidimensional field that extends beyond traditional frameworks.
The process of reviewing all applications also provided an important opportunity for the committee to better understand the current research needs within this field and to identify priorities and questions deserving of further attention and support, particularly regarding interdisciplinarity, intersectionality, and the strengthening of connections between different fields of knowledge. The committee also highlighted the considerable challenge of sorting and prioritizing proposals due to their richness and diversity. At the same time, the applications demonstrated a vibrant research spirit and a serious commitment to cultural issues, reflecting the presence of researchers with innovative perspectives and an organic connection to their realities—an encouraging sign for the future of this field.
