SEAL sponsored the two-year program (2015-2016) “Present Time, Ourselves” at the Beirut Art Center. The diverse art projects and collaborations ran parallel to a series of events including talks, performances, round table discussions, and an educational outreach program aimed at widening the exchange of ideas with a larger and diversified audience. These activities created jobs and engaged people across the community from designers, translators, educators, and librarians to technicians, caterers, and laborers. 

In addition to supporting the cultural scene in Lebanon, the program enhanced Beirut’s international standing as a cultural hub through the participation of international artists, curators, and scholars. These international professionals participated in the center’s exhibitions, parallel events, and educational programs on a regular basis which additionally contributed to the tourism economy.