Beirut Editions

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Beirut Editions was an online exhibition of limited edition artist prints to promote and support relief efforts in the wake of the August 4, 2020 explosion, which resulted in at least 210 deaths, 7,500 injuries, and unhousing an estimated 300,000 people. At a time when everyone felt overwhelmed and helpless to enact real change, Beirut Editions made it easy to have a direct impact on those who need help the most: Buy a print. Support small local NGOs.

How it worked: the online exhibition ran October 13 – December 10, 2020, and 100% of proceeds from the limited-edition art prints sales went to communities in need of immediate assistance. All prints and originals had been donated by a diverse range of illustrators, artists, designers, and printers.

Participating artists + designers: Amber Vittoria, Sarah Mazzetti, Derek Abella, Mohamad Abdouni, Molly Fairhurst, Joseph Kai, Ayla Hibri, Michèle Aoun, Myriam Boulos, Erik Brandt, Erik Carter, Matt Willey, Sophi Gullbrants, Studio Safar, Jordy van den Nieuwendijk, Mark Pernice, Sally Thurer, Nadine Redlich, Iman Raad, Kristyan Sarkis, Ping Zhu, Christoph Niemann, Jon Burgerman, Nichole Shinn, Robert Blair, Kurt Woerpel, Raphaelle Macaron, Daniel Zender, Vinnie Neuberg, Thomas Colligan, Rose Wong, Bráulio Amado, Lennard Kok, Wael Morcos, Cody Hoyt, Cari Van Der Yacht, Super Freak (Dan Whitehouse),Grace Miceli, Armando Veve, Astrid Terrazas, Julia Rothman, Mazen Kerbaj, Elana Schlenker, Najeebah Al-Ghadban, Tracy Ma, Gabrielle Lamontagne, Mona Chalabi, Elaine Lopez, Julian Glander

The exhibition successfully raised and distributed $48,000, which was sent to three NGOs working on the front lines of aid and activism in Lebanon. These three groups are hyper-local, which means their support has a direct and immediate impact on individuals who need help the most right now.

• Haven For Artists, run by Dayna Ash, is an NGO whose ongoing work in the art community has been mobilized to provide immediate aid to those most affected by the Beirut blast. In particular, they focus on LGBTQ individuals who lack family support, single mothers, and the elderly most affected by the explosion. Haven’s work on the ground includes providing shelter, hot meals, hygiene kits, urgent repairs of windows and doors, rent assistance, direct cash, micro-grants, and basic home furnishings.
• Egna Legna Besidet and Anti-Racist Movement (ARM) are both non-religious, non-political, community-based, female-led NGOs whose mission is to help migrant domestic workers in Lebanon. Under the Kafala system, domestic workers are often exploited by their sponsors, the families who employ them (read more about the Kafala sponsorship system here). The destruction of the August 4th explosion exacerbated the problems of Lebanon’s ongoing economic collapse: thousands of domestic workers have been abandoned by their sponsoring families, making them essentially refugees.
• Egna Legna works to provide shelter, rent assistance, medication, and sanitary needs, as well as legal assistance and repatriation sponsorship for stranded workers. ARM’s advocacy campaigns work to decrease social and institutional racist discrimination and abuse in Lebanon while empowering the autonomy of migrant workers through community-building and education. In the wake of the Beirut explosion, much of ARM’s resources have been mobilized to aid in the evacuation and repatriation of stranded migrant workers in Lebanon. To learn more about both organizations’ incredible work, follow them at @egnalegna and @armlebanon.

Beirut Editions was initiated by Tala Safié, Lebanese designer and art director, and filmmaker and former Beirut resident, Noel Paul in collaboration with worker-owned design studio Partner & Partners and writer and publisher, Perrin Drumm. Printing services were generously donated by Elaine Lopez, Powerhouse Arts, TXTbooks, Lucky Risograph, Secret Riso Club, EFA Robert Blackburn Printmaking Workshop, and Endless Editions/Fully Booked. Fulfillment services were donated by a group of enthusiastic volunteers.

This exhibition was made possible in part by funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, in partnership with the City Council.