Background, Goals and Core Values

Most Arab countries share a wealth of historical cultural references that accumulated throughout centuries as a result of linguistic, religious, environmental and geographical affinities. The peoples of the region also share a history of colonization and military occupation and its consequent cultural, social and economic ailments. The positive aspects of this common legacy include potentials for wide distribution of cultural products within the Arab region as well as opportunities for joint work and shared learning amongst Arab creators.

On the other hand, and notwithstanding the fact that each Arab society has its own set of specific problems, Arab creators generally face common challenges imposed on them by restrictive social and political environments. Among these challenges are restrictions on freedom of expression, lack of opportunities for serious cultural dialogue and weakness of the economic infrastructure that supports culture.

The task of facing these challenges, and finding interim and permanent solutions to them, requires persistent collaborative efforts by independent intellectuals, artists and cultural organizations on the long term. Cultural Resource (Al Mawred Al Thaqafy) was established to stimulate and lead such efforts.

Goals

• To nurture a new generation of artists and writers in the Arab region.
• To stimulate dialogue among intellectuals and artists on important cultural issues.
• To encourage Arab business to support the independent cultural sector.
• To promote cooperation among Arab artists and writers and between them and their counterparts in the developing world.

Core Values