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January 7, 2025 marked a major milestone in Lebanon's cultural history with the official inauguration of the Nuhad Es-Said Pavilion for Culture. This new structure, stemming from the ambition to reinvent and boost the National Museum of Beirut, stands as a space where art and memory meet, firmly anchoring the museum in its role as guardian of the country's cultural heritage.
This pavilion named after Nuhad Es-Said, a tribute to a passionate art collector and fervent defender of culture is much more than a simple architectural extension. It is the symbol of a renewed vision for the National Museum, reflecting the richness of the past while looking firmly to the future. Erected alongside the main museum, the pavilion rises elegantly to embody the vitality and resilience of an institution that has weathered wars and crises without ever failing its mission.
The official inauguration was held under the patronage and in the presence of Prime Minister Najib Mikati and by invitation and in the presence of the Minister of Culture Judge Mohammad Wissam Al-Mortada and the President of the National Heritage Foundation, Mrs. Mouna Haraoui.
Also were present the members of the Nuhad Es-Said Pavilion for Culture Committee, officials, ambassadors, and representatives of cultural institutions and the media.
A new chapter for the National Museum
The Nuhad Es-Said Pavilion follows in the footsteps of its predecessors, while at the same time ushering in a new era for the National Museum. This bright, modern space, the result of the meticulous architectural work of the award-winning architectural firm Raëd Abillama Architects,
is destined to become an energetic platform where the arts and culture meet and redefine themselves on an ongoing basis.
The pavilion's mission is to celebrate and disseminate Lebanon's cultural wealth through innovative programs, bold exhibitions, and strong community involvement. It positions itself as a space where national identity is probed and strengthened, where curiosity is aroused, and where creativity draws on fertile ground.
At the same time, it plays a crucial role in the financial support of the National Museum, opening up new perspectives and broadening its scope. This space will be dedicated to the organization and hosting of cultural and social activities such as conferences, round tables, book signings, and other corporate activities to financially support the National Museum of Beirut.
In addition, «The Pavilion Café» with a concept designed and managed by Chef Hussein Hadid is ready to host various events.
A project carried out by the National Heritage Foundation
This ambitious project was made possible thanks to the unwavering commitment of the National Heritage Foundation, founded and led by Mrs. Mouna Haraoui. Since the end of the Civil War, this foundation has been a key player in the renovation and preservation of the National Museum. It was this deep connection with the museum that enabled the foundation to design the pavilion project, in partnership with the Es-Said family.
Although the Es-Said family was the main financial contributor, the National Heritage Foundation was able to raise additional resources from private and corporate donors, reflecting the collective importance attached to the project.
A major inaugural exhibition
From the beginning, the Nuhad Es-Said Pavilion for Culture has aimed to collaborate with various stakeholders in Lebanon and has entrusted the Beirut Museum of Art (BeMA) with organizing and curating the inaugural exhibition “Portals and Pathways, a journey through Reality & Imagination”.
This exhibition, symbolic in many ways, explores the link between the real and the imaginary through a dialogue between modern works from the collection of the Ministry of Culture and contemporary works on loan from artists and private collectors.
Split into four symbolic chapters - Memory, Myths, Perception, and Territory - the exhibition takes visitors on a journey through time and space, exploring the universal themes that bind the works together. Each passage is designed to stimulate thought and emotion, linking elements of the past with contemporary interpretations, enabling a new appropriation of Lebanon's cultural heritage.
As the first visitors passed through the pavilion's doors, they were welcomed into a space that, by its design and mission, is intended to be a bridge between eras, cultures, and ideas. The Nuhad Es-Said Pavilion for Culture is destined to become a beacon of creativity and innovation, reflecting the soul of a country that refuses to die.