The Beginning

The idea for a cooperative emerged from a political, social, and economic context, both local and beyond, that required us to seek out and organize ourselves by using direct and consensus-based mechanisms and for ourselves, to control our livelihoods, our ways of living, and our desired art. The idea germinated during the October 17 revolution that inspired a coalition of artists and cultural workers called Workers in Art and Culture to join forces and aim for the production of  a new political reality. It circulated as an answer to the highly capitalist and hierarchical system that leads artists to be in direct competition between each other and over funds, and presented a mechanism by which these workers could unite their social, economic, and professional resources. 

A small group of people aligned in their desire to see this project come through, including Hashem Adnan, Sassine Kawzali, Ahlam Dirani and Nassim El Banna, organized a presentation about this project. Why a cooperative? What would this cooperative do? How will it be organized? What possible futures might it have?

It was then presented to about 50 to 70 artists in Mansion for several days. Those who showed interest were invited to one-on-one interviews asking them what they are doing; what they think the cooperative could offer them; and what in return could they offer the cooperative.

After these meetings, Rima Kaddisi joined  the same group that began to meet every week at Mansion to think about how to establish this cooperative and what activities they could organize to solidify it.

(To be continued - Click on Thursday Encounters)