The NGO Work in Progress is working to reboot culture and education through public events and educational projects in conflict and post conflict zones Afghanistan, Iraq, Palestine’s occupied territory, Gaza and the Syrian refugee settlements in the Beqaa valley in Lebanon. The goal is to help the civil population from floundering in the abysmal remnants of occupation, war and the desolation of post war and forced migration.

Food clothing and shelter are of utmost priority for these conflict torn regions however people have a basic need for culture to restore their humanity and identity lost in exile and war. Refugees and migrants are in a kind of limbo existence… a kind of survival mode. Their psyches are full of images of their experience in war, forced migration the loss of their homes, and loved ones. They find themselves in new difficult situations where access to education and cultural outlets for themselves and their children, which would diminish their trauma and suffering, is not available.
We saw this phenomenon in Bosnia where we raised funds to finance the theatre productions of Kamerni Theatre in Sarajevo under the violent 3-year siege of the city and helped organize their annual Zima festival in the cold and heatless winters (1992-1995). We observed this, as well, with the Palestinians in the occupied territory, with the Algerians during their bloody civil war(1992-1998)and with the detainees/prisoners in the illegal detention prison of Khiam in south Lebanon in 1999.

The human need for culture is basic, vital and is a healing influence. It is as profound as the need for food and shelter. Culture is an essential part of what constitutes being human! It is food for the spirit.

The NGO proudly participated in the rebooting of the Afghan contemporary art scene in the past 10 years, and Marquardt the NGO’s director has curated several art shows in Kabul and helped organize the Contemporary Art Prize two years running. Now we are carrying this important program to Iraq. We have been in contact with Iraqi artists, the cultural ministry and the French Institute with the goal of setting up a “Contemporary Art Prize” as we have done in Afghanistan.   These Iraqi artists are ready and anxious to be a part of the global village of artists and participate in international exhibitions and this in spite of the tense and dangerous situation in their country.

We organized an exhibition in Beirut 2016 called “Heritage of Emotions”, which narrates the loss of cultural heritage in Lebanon during their terrible civil war…. And the continuing disregard of cultural heritage by the Lebanese themselves in favor of financial gain.

We organized another exhibition that was held during Human Rights Week on the UN day for the elimination of violence against women in Kabul Afghanistan December 2016.  It included the work of a Mexican, an Iraqi, an Egyptian, an Afghan, a Palestinian… all women who want their world to evolve… not only feminists but human rights advocates, All communicating beautifully and eloquently through their work their engagement to improve and mend society’s ills. The second page of the exhibition: “The Artist as Catalyst for Change”, took place in Kabul in April- May 2017.

A full description of Work in Progress’s projects since 1994 is enclosed.