The Minister of Culture Raymond Araygi held a press conference at the national museum during which he signed with the Association for the Promotion and Exhibition of the Arts in Lebanon "Apeal"  an agreement of "loan for use" after which the ministry lends its collection of Lebanese artistic works in the presence of the General  Director of Antiquities Sarkis Khouri, the Acting General Director of Cultural Affairs Mrs. Hage Ifraz and the Vice President of the association "Apeal" Sandra Abou Nader, members of the Association’s Board of Directors, representatives of the German Embassy in Lebanon and other personalities.

The loan agreement is a part of the ministry’s efforts to promote an exchange of expertise within the active and specialized cultural networks and comes in line with APEAL’s project of launching Beirut Museum of Art- BeMA which serves as a cultural platform that sheds the light on contemporary and modern arts in Lebanon and the region. The museum will embrace a collection of fine arts and will be a hub and a platform for dialogue and interaction between cultures and civilizations.

The bilateral agreement is about an art collection encompassing a selection of masterpieces for Lebanese artists preserved by the Ministry of Culture for several years and collected from the Presidential Palace, the Grand Serail, the Summer Presidential Residence in Beiteddine, the Unesco Palace and the ministry’s offices.

Prior to their first exhibition which will be marked by the official opening of the Beirut Museum of Art-BeMA, the artworks comprising of paintings on canvas, works on paper, sculptures and photographs will be cleaned and restored with the support of the German Embassy who will fund the restoration works equipment.