Belly dancing has always been associated with the “Exotic Orient.” But how accurate are modern perceptions of this ancient craft?

As the most famous of the “new generation” of belly dancers in Damascus, the one and only Shalimar has her say on the ongoing debate over art and sex.

Riyadh Neama, an Iraqi artist who came to Syria in search of freedom, has finally realized his dream of producing a collection of paintings that shows the reality of life as lived on an ordinary street

Syria’s biggest selling artist alive, Safwan Dahoul, will paint his next major work with each brush stroke broadcast in a live video stream on the Internet

At 47, Khaled Samawi, a former banker and founder of Ayyam Gallery describes himself as a "cultural entrepreneur" above a curator. With the first million dollar auction under his belt and two new gallery spaces in Dubai and Cairo, no one can dispute that Ayyam is a business success story. So what's got noses out of joint in the Syrian arts world? On the eve of the opening of prominent sculptor Mustafa Ali's hard-hitting new exhibition "Guillotine" last month, Khaled Samawi sat down for a frank conversation with Forward Magazine about the future of art in the Middle East, setting the record straight on the many ways forward.

With over 50 years experience in the arts and the recipient of many international biennale awards (Belgium, Dacca, Kuwait, and France), Al-Kaabi’s works pay homage to Iraq’s heritage.

Usually they form a prop to the main subject, but Waleed al-Masri has succeeded in turning chairs into the centerpieces.

• Sam Dalla: Was the Chinese model that good?
• Assad appoints a 29-member Constitutional Committee, for a new constitution by next February

• Assad appoints a 29-member Constitutional Committee, for a new constitution by next February
• Sam Dalla: Was the Chinese model that good?

• Assad appoints a 29-member Constitutional Committee, for a new constitution by next February
• Sam Dalla: Was the Chinese model that good?

• Assad appoints a 29-member Constitutional Committee, for a new constitution by next February
• Sam Dalla: Was the Chinese model that good?