Barbara Walters chats with Forward Syria
Swaying between art and seduction
Discussing monetary policy with the man in charge
Where the earth screams in horror
09/09/2010 - Issue 43
Photo worth a thousand words: The Syrian Photo Agency
When selected as one of the five projects for incubation by the Cultural Projects Incubator (CPI) at Rawafed, the Syrian Photo Agency stood out because of how it treated and understood photography
Chosen by an independent committee of prominent experts and artists (Marie Elias, Leila Hawrani, Abed Azrie, Fadel Al-Kawakibi, and Safwan Dahoul), this project stood out because it tackled photography both as an inspiring art form and an important tool to visually document Syria’s rapid development.
“Unfortunately photography in Syria doesn't enjoy the same high visibility and standing as in many other countries,” said Hisham Zaweet, founder of the agency. “I wanted to create an agency that brings together the photography community, and creates an interactive bank for their valuable work.”
Through training programmes with both professionals and amateurs, the Agency hopes to highlight photography’s core values and principles, ranging from production and creation, to exhibitions and archiving. “The agency’s approach is fascinating,” noted Siwar Demashkieh, Rawafed Communication Manager, “because it really challenges purely commercial perceptions of photography, or the idea that a photo is just something that goes along with a news article. Hisham Zaweet’s concept forces us to reassess the incredible value of photography.”
The agency will also play an important role in promoting Syria’s vibrant culture and heritage by collecting, archiving and studying photos and images related to Syria.
Zaweet explained, “Part of our aim is to monitor and record our rich and diverse history. The agency will visually document the cultural character and traditions of Syrians, as well as important heritage sites, such as those listed as UNESCO World Heritage sites.”
Indeed the success of the project will depend heavily on the contributions of local photographers to the archive, as well as their assistance in promoting the value of their craft. “I have great hopes for the agency because I believe that Syrian photographers are immensely talented, and that they are eager to showcase their work.”
Zaweet has scheduled activities to cover the first year of incubation. However, he believes that the incubation period needs be extended to a minimum of two years for the project to be able to continue on its own. Rawafed, which is the cultural project of The Syria Trust for Development, will be providing varied support to this, and the other selected CPI projects, including financial, logistical and space, legal and managerial, capacity building, networking, media and communication, and monitoring and evaluation.
Two training sessions have taken place so far, the first of which focused on building the logical framework and long-term strategy of each project, while the second concentrated on the incorporation of effective business and management tools into cultural planning.
Ultimately, Zaweet hopes that the project will have a positive impact beyond photography and cultural sectors. “The agency will help show how we see ourselves as Syrians, especially relative to the way the world sees us. I hope that the Syrian Photo Agency can contribute in some way to challenging perceptions about Syrian life by reflecting our dynamic and interesting reality.”
The four other projects incubated by Rawafed’s CPI in 2010 are Homs Space for Culture and Arts by Samer Ibrahim, Work and Art by Muhanned Deeb, The Arab House Orchestra by Yaser Drebati, and Cultural Integration for People with Special Needs by Chavia Ali.
Rawafed announces independent festivals