Syria: Syria Culture Index, an independent venture, is under preparation

Syrian visual artist and cultural activist Khaled Barakeh has announced the creation of the independent Syria Culture Index campaign. A virtual platform and smart phone app, the Syria Culture Index was created to address and aid Syrians and Syrian Palestinians working in culture — either as individuals or within institutions, both within and outside Syria. The campaign helps clients to overcome the difficulties they face in their professional careers. Details of the project were published in a statement on Barakeh's Facebook page in September 2016.

According to Barakeh, the Index — which is expected to launch early 2017 — will be a continuously growing database covering all Syrian cultural affairs (including cinema, art, theatre, design, translation, technical fields, and more). It also seeks to support Syrian cultural activists in developing their work and overcoming challenges which threaten their professional careers. Furthermore, it projects to be an alternative platform that promotes job creation, the skill exchange, and professional know-how.

The Index will also provide analytical and search tools for its database (catalysing communication between artists scattered in the Syrian diaspora). Membership data will be routinely published in the form of infographics in order to paint a more accurate picture of Syrian culture. Finally, this data will be collected and published annually in the Yellow Pages, to be distributed to universities, cultural institutes, and parties interested in supporting Syrian affairs around the world.

To view Syria Culture Index’s goals and its Board of Trustees, please click here.