Heritage at Risk: Culture Minister Ghassan Salame warned that restoring Lebanon’s war-damaged heritage could take a generation. Faith Tourism: Despite the conflict, 22-year-old Antonio El Helou is leading visitors to Christian heritage sites in safer areas north of Beirut, presenting them as part of living communities. Art & Memory: Dala Nasser’s “Cemetery of Martyrs” exhibition explores death, while the documentary “Beirut Fragments” captures the human cost of Israeli attacks. Language & Identity: Lebanese-American students at UMass are rallying to save its Four-Skilled Arabic program, describing the intensive course as a community as well as a place to learn.
AGP Executive Report
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Faith and Education: Women and girls rallied outside ESCWA in Beirut in solidarity with hijab-wearing students in Azerbaijan, calling for religious freedom and girls’ right to education. Beirut Retail: Dubai-born sportswear brand SQUATWOLF opened its first Lebanese flagship at City Centre Beirut, its first store outside the Gulf. Heritage: Lebanon’s Culture Ministry launched a digital archive inviting people at home and abroad to share family photos, letters, videos and songs. Culture Minister Ghassan Salame said war damage to heritage sites and traditions could take a generation to repair. Art and Memory: Lebanese artist Dala Nasser’s London installation, Cemetery of Martyrs, uses rubbings and images from the graves of more than 50 Arab writers, artists and activists, including figures buried in Beirut. Music: Saint Levant’s upcoming tour draws on Beirut’s 1990s nightlife, with a live show blending music, storytelling and stage design to evoke the era’s cultural scene.
Cost of Living: In Zahle, Joumana Abou Shahla weighs every purchase as rising prices stretch household budgets. Families are cutting back on food, healthcare and education, with Lebanon’s consumer prices up 16.66% year on year in August. Free Expression: Human Rights Watch is urging parliament to fix gaps in Lebanon’s new media law, warning that remaining restrictions could still be used against journalists, activists and artists. Film: The documentary Beirut Fragments brings renewed attention to the human cost of attacks on Lebanon. Culture & Wellbeing: A study questions whether a love of horror helps people cope with crisis in war-torn Lebanon, while a feature on tatreez explores the stories carried in traditional embroidery.
Southern Lebanon: About 100 families have returned to Zawtar al-Gharbiyah despite destroyed homes and continued occupation. The government’s “pilot zone” plan raises urgent questions about rebuilding and residents’ ability to remain on their land. Arts & Memory: “Beirut Fragments” brings the continuing toll of Israeli attacks on Lebanon into cultural focus. Faith & Coexistence: Greece’s Archbishop Ieronymos met Maronite Patriarch Bechara Raï, affirming that Eastern Christian communities are part of the region’s history and culture. Heritage: Lebanon’s Ministry of Culture and the U.S. Embassy marked the Mussaylha Fort project, drawing attention to the country’s historic sites.
Church Solidarity: Maronite Patriarch Bechara Boutros Raï met Greek Archbishop Ieronymos in Athens, who affirmed Eastern Christians’ place in the region’s history and culture and voiced support for Lebanon. Music Scene: Beirut’s independent electronic music community will feature in Amsterdam Dance Event panels this week, alongside scenes from Cairo, Casablanca, Amman and the Gulf. Frontline Care: A survey of 465 early-career nurses across six Middle Eastern countries, including Lebanon, points to gaps in training for psychological first aid in conflict settings. Heritage: Lebanon’s Ministry of Culture and the U.S. Embassy celebrated the Mussaylha Fort project, drawing attention to the country’s historic sites. Education: War damage to 436 schools and education facilities in Lebanon has affected 100,000 students, according to a report cited this week. Living Memory: Israeli fire on olive groves in South Lebanon is disrupting harvests and eroding village memories tied to the trees.
Lebanese-Jewish Heritage: New negotiations between Lebanon and Israel have brought renewed attention to a community largely forgotten since most of its members left. Rabbi Elie Abadie, who grew up in Beirut, recalls its Arabic songs, food and once-vibrant Jewish life. Peace by Chocolate: A 10th-anniversary edition of Jon Tattrie’s book follows the Hadhad family’s journey from Syria to building a Canadian chocolate company, with new family stories and updates. Olive Harvest: Lebanese and Syrian workers were allowed into a southern Lebanon security zone to harvest olives under military supervision—a seasonal livelihood tied closely to village life. Western Armenian: A new essay examines efforts to sustain the diaspora language, long spoken in communities including Beirut, as speakers and institutions connect with Armenia. Heritage Preservation: Lebanon’s Culture Ministry and the U.S. Embassy celebrated the Mussaylha Fort project, spotlighting efforts to preserve a historic site.
Lebanese Art Abroad: Lebanese artist and composer Joe Namy’s Cosmic Breath brings calls to prayer from across the world together in a London sound installation exploring faith, identity and public space. Arabic Literature: Berlin’s Divan Arab Book Fair opened with more than 110 publishers, hosting discussions on Arabic writing, translation and cultural exchange. Heritage Protection: A new digital archive launched at Beirut’s National Library invites people to preserve Lebanon’s photographs, letters, maps, music and videos; an Italian-Lebanese team is also mapping the Roman site at Faqra in 3D. Education: The damage to 436 schools and education facilities in Lebanon has affected 100,000 students, underscoring the toll of conflict on children’s learning.
Heritage at Risk: A new digital archive launched at Beirut’s National Library will preserve family photos, letters, maps, songs and videos from Lebanon and its diaspora on Italian servers. An Italian-Lebanese team is also beginning 3D mapping of the Roman site at Faqra. Lebanese Music Abroad: Singer Yasmine Hamdan joins Nadah El Shazly, Liliane Chlela and Big Murk in the music programme for Tunis’s Jaou biennale, opening October 23. Historic Sites: Lebanon’s Culture Ministry and the U.S. Embassy are celebrating work on the restoration of Mussaylha Fort. Rural Memory: Reports from southern Lebanon warn that damage to olive groves is eroding harvest traditions and the memories tied to village life.
October 17’s Legacy: A reflection marking seven years since Lebanon’s uprising argues its deepest impact was the freedom to question political power and inherited loyalties. Education: War damage to 436 schools and education facilities has affected 100,000 students, according to a report on Lebanon’s children. Heritage: The Culture Ministry and U.S. Embassy celebrated the Mussaylha Fort project, bringing attention to the country’s historic sites. Living Traditions: Lebanon’s only church-bell maker is keeping a 300-year family craft alive, while olive grove losses in the south are eroding village memories and harvest traditions. Arts & Inclusion: Choreographer Omar Rajeh reflects on his work and the impossibility of repeating it; meanwhile, queer people in Lebanon are reportedly being shut out of wartime shelters.
Heritage & Place: Lebanon’s Ministry of Culture and the U.S. Embassy marked the restoration of Mussaylha Fort, including its historic mill, alongside workshops supporting local farmers and traditional crops. Children & Education: A UNICEF report says one in five Lebanese families recently had children go to bed hungry, while war damage to 436 schools and education facilities has affected 100,000 students. Local Memory: A new look at Dbayeh traces the layers of history packed into the area, making the case for local stories alongside grand national narratives; reports from the south warn that damage to olive groves is eroding village memory and livelihoods. Living Traditions: Lebanon’s only church-bell maker is keeping a 300-year family craft alive, a reminder of the people sustaining the country’s cultural heritage.
Village Heritage: Israeli fire and disrupted harvests in southern Lebanon are keeping families from gathering olives, eroding a seasonal tradition tied to village memory. Education: The American University of Beirut ranked sixth in the QS Arab university rankings; separately, reports say war damage to 436 schools and educational facilities has affected 100,000 students. Community Access: Queer people in Lebanon are being shut out of wartime shelters, leaving them with fewer safe places to turn. Living Traditions: Lebanon’s only church-bell maker is carrying on a 300-year family craft.
Land and Memory: Israeli fire in South Lebanon is disrupting olive harvests, with lost seasons eroding village memory. Education and Safety: War damage to 436 schools and educational facilities in Lebanon has affected 100,000 students. Creative Exchange: Lebanese designer Shirine Sbaiti is among the artists pairing with Mexican artisans in a cross-cultural design showcase in Mexico City. Culture Under Pressure: Queer people in Lebanon are being shut out of wartime shelters, while the country’s only church-bell maker works to preserve a 300-year family tradition. Lebanon will also feature in Antalya’s Golden Orange Film Festival, which includes films from countries affected by war.
Education: War damaged 436 educational facilities in Lebanon, leaving about 100,000 students unable to return to school. In Borj Qalaouiye, classes have resumed in temporary classrooms as rebuilding and catch-up lessons continue amid insecurity. Arts: Qatar’s first Rubaiya quadrennial has named more than 120 participating artists, including Lebanese artists Simone Fattal, Dala Nasser and Lawrence Abu Hamdan. It opens Nov. 21. LGBTQ+ Rights: A report highlights how queer people in Lebanon are shut out of wartime shelters. Heritage: Lebanon’s only church-bell maker is keeping a 300-year family tradition alive.
Rugby League: Lebanon’s World Cup squad has added high-profile recruits from Australian rules and rugby union, with the team set to open against Papua New Guinea. Lebanese Food Abroad: A Lebanese pizzeria has opened a new restaurant in Sydney’s Inner West, while London bakery Edami is bringing Beirut-style manakish to Dalston. Heritage: Lebanon’s only church-bell maker is keeping a 300-year family tradition alive, and a project in Brazil is preserving Lebanese heritage. Community: Queer people in Lebanon are being shut out of wartime shelters, highlighting the added risks facing vulnerable communities during conflict. Faith and Learning: Pope Leo has announced scholarships for Christian students in Lebanon, Syria and Iraq; Haigazian University also hosted a conference on missionaries and the Armenian Evangelical community.
Cedars Ready for the World Cup: Alex Twal will captain Lebanon for the first time as the team opens against Papua New Guinea on Saturday. Former Wallabies star Will Genia and AFL premiership winner Nick Davis are among the high-profile coaches helping prepare the squad. Dance: In a new interview, Lebanese dancer Omar Rajeh reflects on work he says cannot be repeated. Lebanese Food Abroad: A Sydney pizzeria opened a family-run restaurant celebrating manoush and other Lebanese dishes, with an open kitchen and limestone brought from Lebanon. Living Heritage: Lebanon’s only church-bell maker is carrying on a 300-year family tradition. LGBTQ+ Rights: A report highlights how queer people in Lebanon are being shut out of wartime shelters.
Dance: Lebanese choreographer Omar Rajeh brings his solo Dance Is Not for Us to London’s Barbican on Oct. 16–17. The work reflects on his life in Beirut and the pressures of making art there. Lebanon on the World Stage: The Cedars open their Rugby League World Cup campaign against Papua New Guinea on Oct. 17. Captain Alex Twal says passion for Lebanon will unite the team, led by coach Michael Cheika. Heritage: Lebanon’s only church-bell maker is keeping a 300-year family craft alive. LGBTQ+ Rights: A recent report highlights queer people being shut out of wartime shelters in Lebanon.
Southern Lebanon Heritage: A New York Times investigation found Israeli forces have largely demolished 48 of roughly 60 villages in the south since the ceasefire, raising fears displaced residents may be unable to return. Lebanese Craft: The country’s only church-bell maker is working to preserve a 300-year family tradition. Queer Community: LGBTQ+ people in Lebanon are being shut out of wartime shelters, exposing gaps in emergency support. Faith & Heritage: A new Lebanese pilgrimage trail offers a route through the country’s religious heritage, while Pope Leo has announced scholarships for Christian students in Lebanon, Syria and Iraq. Literary History: A new feature revisits how 1980s Lebanon helped shape today’s Middle East.
Living Heritage: In Beit Chabab, the Naffah family is keeping a 300-year craft alive. Its workshop is Lebanon’s last church-bell foundry, supplying churches at home and across the diaspora. Fashion: Lebanese-Tunisian designer Ibrahim Shebani won the Creative Entrepreneurship Talent award at the Arab Fashion Awards in Paris for his label, Born in Exile. Lebanese Cinema: Nadim Tabet’s In This Darkness I See You, a France-Lebanon-Qatar production, has been selected for the Cairo International Film Festival’s international competition in November. Faith and Education: Pope Leo XIV announced scholarships for students in Lebanon, Syria and Iraq, aiming to help young people access Catholic education and support Christian communities in the region. Cultural Tourism: A new 130-kilometre pilgrimage trail inspired by St Charbel is drawing visitors to Lebanon’s mountain monasteries and faith heritage.
Lebanese Cinema: Nadim Tabet’s In This Darkness I See You, a France-Lebanon-Qatar production, has joined the 12-film international competition at Cairo’s 47th International Film Festival, running Nov. 11–20. Innovation: Beirut’s Experia expo wrapped up after two days, with more than 100 exhibitors, workshops, hackathons and a startup pitch contest. Education: Pope Leo XIV has announced tuition scholarships for Christian students from financially vulnerable families in Lebanon, Syria and Iraq. Books and Heritage: Prime Minister Nawaf Salam visited the Beirut Arab International Book Fair, while a new feature explores how zajal poetry can illuminate Lebanese history. Nature: Conservationists in Lebanon are working to protect the country’s natural heritage despite the pressures of conflict.
Lebanese Cinema: Nadim Tabet’s In This Darkness I See You, a France-Lebanon-Qatar co-production, is among 12 films selected for Cairo International Film Festival’s international competition in November. Education & Faith: Pope Leo XIV announced tuition scholarships for financially vulnerable Christian students in Lebanon, Syria and Iraq, aiming to help young people study and families remain in the region. Lebanese Heritage: Tanzanian-Lebanese model Jihan Dimack made pageant history as the first African winner of Miss Grand International. Books & Ideas: Beirut’s Arab International Book Fair hosted Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, who linked Lebanon’s recovery to restoring state sovereignty and advancing reforms. Armenian Culture: Haigazian University held a conference on missionaries and the Armenian Evangelical community.
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