Week of art, design begins as twin fairs open in Beirut

A group of art insiders descended on the Le Gray hotel in downtown Beirut to celebrate the beginning of the Beirut Art Week, which runs Sept. 18-25 with a multifaceted program dedicated to contemporary art and design. Together with Lebanese Culture Minister Ghattas Khoury, the group was taken on a 16-stop tour of public art installations by Lebanese and international artists throughout the city’s galleries and open spaces.

The walk curls from the Le Gray hotel at Martyr’s Square down through the Beirut Souks and back into the popular neighborhood of Gemmayzeh for its last stop. Beyond just showcasing public artworks, the tour intends to highlight the cultural heritage and architecture of the city through exhibits like “Building With Fire” held in the old L'Orient-Le Jour building and a "ciné-concert" combining archival footage with live performances on the terraces of the Opera Gallery.