NETWORK FOR CULTURAL OUTREACH (NCO)
Decentralising Culture
bridging between regions and culture
The Network for Cultural Outreach proudly benefits from the support of Cultural Resource (Al Mawred Al Thaqafy) and the European Union in the framework of the “All-Around Culture” programme and its Cultural Alliance component for 2021-2023.
Image from Yaraqa’s “And so we move”
In 2022, YAZAN partnered with two other cultural entities in Lebanon, Yaraqa and Clown Me In, to form the NCO, Network for Cultural Outreach, addressing decentralisation and touring of our programs, performances and activities. In those difficult times Lebanon is going through, with more than a million citizens displaced, YAZAN keeps the touring initiative alive, in the hope of bringing theatre, music, film and dance to every community everywhere.
Our aim is to facilitate the dissemination and outreach of our programs within the NCO alliance and encourage over time other cultural actors/associations (national, regional or even international) to develop relations with a wider audience, to create more inclusive cultural work, and to develop more work opportunities through touring of cultural events in Lebanon. We empower each other and various towns across the territory to develop the culture and infrastructure needed to host alternative, diverse, accessible, and quality cultural events in their region. By bridging between towns and artists, an inter-municipal and cultural partners network would develop organically on solid and sustainable practices. We believe this network is worthwhile, to share and encourage local creations, to discover and meet people and places in other regions, and to create permanent links.
Most importantly in Lebanon today, we are looking forward to providing artists with job opportunities that last year long, allowing them to make a regular living from their art, to practice it, to develop their craft and take part in the professionalisation of the theatre and performance arts sector at large.
Watch the video : BEKAA TOUR 2022
NCO BEKAA TOUR SUMMER 2022
NCO TOUR IN THE BEKAA : BAALBECK, ZAHLE, RIYAQ, AANJAR
AUGUST 19, 20, 21, 2022
Al Aadiloun, directed by Caroline Hatem, Bacchus Temple, Baalbeck
We launched our pilot tour in the Bekaa region in August 2022 : the cities of Baalbeck, Zahlé, Aanjar and Riyaq hosted theatre performances, clowning, and in-situ dance trails.
The NCO was proud to partner with local entities and to bring together diverse communities around culture and artists from all over the territory.
All events were free of charge.
YAZAN presented Al Aadiloun, Caroline Hatem’s adaptation of Albert Camus’ Les Justes, in Zahle (Collège Oriental / Sharqyye) then in Baalback (Bacchus Temple).
NCO NORTH TOUR : AMIOUN, TRIPOLI, ANFEH
June 9, 10, 11, 2023In June 2023, the NCO headed North, and this time YAZAN presented a play adapted and directed by Caroline Hatem, Transit Tripoli, at the Rachid Karame Exhibition Fair’s outdoors space in Tripoli designed by architect Oscar Niemeyer, as well as an outdoors concert in Amioun in the village square, with artists Ana, Sara Abdo and Rabih Gebeile.
Culture X Tourism : The NCO partnered with TLB Destinations (tour operator) to support economic and touristic growth in the regions, calling audiences from Beirut to join touristic tours paired with cultural events in the region. All cultural events were free of charge.
NCO METN TOUR : FRAYKEH, MROUJ, MTEIN, CORNET CHEHOUAN
September 21, 22, 23, 24, 2023
In September 2023, the NCO toured the Metn region. YAZAN presented Al Aadiloun, a play adapted and directed by Caroline Hatem at the Maison des Arts in Fraykeh (founded by Mounir Bou Debs) and a music concert at Cornet Chehouan’s Marbad with groups Akashic Matter and Minalshaab (a group based in Cornet Chehouan) feat. Youssef El Khoury, in partnership with Oakura, one of the very rare venues programing music and cultural events in the region.
The Network for Cultural Outreach partnered with Tour Leb in September 2023, to initiate cultural tourism in the Metn region through a very rich program pairing tourism and the NCO’s performances. All cultural events were free of charge.
Touring with AL BEYT, a play directed by Caroline Hatem
ZGHORTA
26 & 27 OCTOBER, 2018 - MUNICIPAL THEATRE OF ZGHORTA
Al Beyt play - with the support of the Zghorta Municipality
TRIPOLI
3 FEBRUARY, 2018 - SAFADI CENTER
Al Beyt Play - with the support of the Safadi Center (Full house, 400 seats)
ZOUK MOSBEH
2018 - ND DE LOUAYZE SCHOOL
Al Beyt Play - with the support of Zouk Mosbeh Municipality (Full House, 1000 Seats)
Image: Ayoub Gabsi
HAMMANA
25 NOVEMBER, 2018 - ROXY CINEMA
Al Beyt Play - with the gracious help of the Hammana Municipality & the Hammana Artist House
Image: Marielise Aad
KED BEIRUT
IN 2017, YAZAN invited Swiss choreographer and dancer Laure Dupont to offer a workshop and to perform her solo choreography LABA at KED Beirut. That was the first artistic performance ever to be hosted by KED, an alternative space in Beirut owned and managed by Gaby Markarian situated by the Beirut port and river. It marked the beginning of a strong partnership with YAZAN. The performance was free of charge, two evenings ( two full houses), with a majority of theatre and dance students - while the workshop took place at the Art & Movement Dance school with over 40 participants.
YAZAN opened then in KED the play AL BEYT by Arzé Khodr, directed by Caroline Hatem, before having a full run at the Monnot theatre.
In 2019, pioneer digital scenographer Christopher Kondek (USA/Berlin) gave at KED a 10 days intensive hands-on workshop within the YAZAN Professional Artists Training program.
In 2022, YAZAN presented at KED Al Aadiloun within Unesco’s Beryt support program following the Beirut blast, along a market it organized on KED’s last floor where businesses from Gemmayze and Mar Mikhael could sell their products with no participation charge, over 3 days.
In June 2024, Caroline Hatem presented yet another outdoors version of Transit Tripoli on KED’s terrace over 3 week-ends.
2017 - LABA
LABA Dance performance by Laure Dupont (Switzerland) - with the support of the Swiss Embassy in Lebanon
2017 - KED BEIRUT
Al Beyt play - With the support of the Arab Fund for Art and Culture, the Lebanese Ministry of Culture and Bankers Assurances
The play was performed in the last floor at KED’s. Bleachers were built on the spot. AL Beyt got three full houses and paved its way to the Monnot theatre, where it opened a few months later.
2019 - KED BEIRUT
YPAT Digital Scenography Workshop with Christopher Kondek - with the support of the European Union in Lebanon and the Goethe-Institut Lebanon
The workshop took place at the first floor, in a black box specially designed for the occasion in order to work on projections by day. 8 participants worked 5 hours a day creating projection possibilities and content around Brecht’s A very respectable wedding (adapted into Al ZIFAF).