Call for Proposals - “BERYT” (The Beirut Housing Rehabilitation and Cultural and Creative Industries Recovery)

On 4 August 2020, high magnitude blasts in the port of Beirut devastated the city including some of its most historic and culturally vibrant urban neighbourhoods. These areas held a talented community of emerging and confirmed artists, creators and cultural professionals, with numerous galleries, cinemas, theatres, libraries, museums, learning spaces (schools and music and dance clubs), sound recording studios and other cultural spaces as well as several workshops, boutiques for designers and artisans, making them a hub for Lebanon’s creative economy.

Cultural and creative industries (CCI) represented one of the most dynamic sectors of the Lebanese economy. The contribution of the Cultural and Creative Industries in Lebanon represented before the current crisis a determining factor of wealth creation in the country. The blast heavily disturbed the activities of the sector - that was already precarious due to the unprecedented economic and social crisis Lebanon has experienced over the past 3 years - as most of the Beirut’s creatives were established in the neighbourhoods affected by the explosions. Besides the material damages inflicted, which forced the closure or relocation of numerous entities, the explosions directly provoked delays and cancellation or permanent cessation of cultural activities negatively affecting the livelihoods of the stakeholders in the sector.

Provide emergency assistance through grants to affected cultural practitioners and non-for-profit entities operating in targeted Cultural and Creative Industries for the development of cultural productions.

Eligible proposals include all activities related to the creation, production, distribution, and exhibition/diffusion of cultural and creative activities as well as transmission of skills in six cultural domains:

1. Performing arts
2. Visual arts include photography, fine arts and crafts
3. Intangible cultural heritage
4. Audio-visual and interactive media
5. Literature and press
6. Heritage and tourism

To find out more about the eligibility criteria and the criteria for evaluating proposals, please read the call for proposal document carefully.

In order to submit a project proposal, applicants should:

1. Carefully read the call for proposal document to understand its terms.
2. Download the appropriate electronic application form depending on your status (individual cultural practitioners or non-for-profit entities). If you encounter difficulties in downloading the electronic application form, please contact the UNESCO Secretariat at the following address:
3. cci-beryt@unesco.org .
4. Complete the application form in Arabic, English OR French.
5. Attach the requested supporting documents.
6. Sign and date the form.
7. Send the completed form by e-mail to cci-beryt@unesco.org. The UNESCO Secretariat will confirm receipt of proposals by e-mail.
8. A Grant Approval Committee composed of an independent panel of experts will evaluate applications and decide upon successful candidates, considering the eligibility and evaluation criteria outlined in the call for proposal document.

For more information, please contact: cci-beryt@unesco.org  or call at +961 1 850013/4/5 ext. 324

Individual practitioners and entities are entitled to receive technical assistance to complete their applications. Technical assistance will be provided through the NGO Live Love Lebanon. Interested potential beneficiaries can contact directly Live Love Lebanon by email: (cci@livelovebeirut.com) and by phone: (+961 70 398 112)

The “Beirut Housing Rehabilitation and Cultural and Creative Industries Recovery” project – #BERYT – has established a Grievance Mechanism (GM). The GM provides a platform to i. provide feedback; ii. submit inquiries; iii. request information; vi. submit complaints or concerns.

To find out more about the GM, please click here, and you can directly contact us over the phone at +961 81 582 376 or by email at unhabitat-lb-gm@un.org.