New Contemporary Art Museum to Come in Beirut

A new museum of Modern and contemporary art in Lebanon is becoming a reality with the announcement of the selected architects for the project.

The 2,780 sq. m museum, which will be located in central Beirut close to the National Museum, is due to open by 2020. Representatives from the Association for the Promotion and Exhibition of the Arts in Lebanon (Apeal), the non-profit organisation behind the museum, have signed a long-term lease agreement with the Université Saint Joseph for the site. Apeal has also launched an ambitious private fundraising campaign to build the new museum.

Youssef Tohme Architects and Associates of Beirut and Paris-based Lina Ghotmeh/DGT architects are among the 13 shortlisted practices. The winning design will be announced this autumn, while the search for the founding director is under way.

Pre-launch programming activities include a month-long artist-in-residence programme for six artists in the village of Ras Masqa in Lebanon, organised in collaboration with Temporary. Art. Platform, a Beirut-based art projects body.