Memory on Stage 2027
Public Call for Proposals for Artistic Projects
- Programme: Memory on Stage - Beirut Spring Festival 2027
- Theme: Lebanon's fragmented histories, collective memory and cultural heritage.
- Artistic forms:
Theatre, music, dance, performance, film, visual or performative installation, multimedia, digital and interdisciplinary work, and other contemporary artistic formats.
- Who can apply: Artists, cultural practitioners, collectives and cultural organisations with an established professional practice in Lebanon.
- Maximum support: Up to EUR 30,000.
- Deadline: 30 November 2026, 11:59 PM Beirut time.
- Submission Portal: <insert the submission portal URL>
- Presentation: As part of the 2027 edition of the Beirut Spring Festival.
- Funding:
European Union-funded Tech for Memory project.
About the call
The Samir Kassir Foundation invites artists, cultural practitioners, collectives and cultural organisations working in Lebanon to submit proposals for original artistic projects to be presented as part of the 2027 edition of the Foundation’s Beirut Spring Festival.
Memory on Stage is an artistic creation programme developed within the European Union-funded Tech for Memory project. It supports contemporary artistic approaches that contribute to preserving, questioning, interpreting and transmitting Lebanon's cultural heritage and fragmented memory.
Projects may take the form of theatre, music, dance, performance, film, visual or performative installation, multimedia, digital or interdisciplinary work, or another contemporary artistic format. Applicants are encouraged to interpret the idea of "stage" expansively and to propose forms suited to the artistic concept and the audiences they seek to engage.
The Beirut Spring Festival is a free-of-charge annual arts and culture programme that celebrates freedom and renewal in Beirut, in memory of Samir Kassir. ✨
What we are looking for
Projects may engage with, among other areas:
- individual and collective memory;
- fragmented, contested, silenced or overlooked histories;
- archives, oral histories and archival absence;
- war, conflict, displacement and migration;
- urban, social and cultural transformations;
- intergenerational memory and transmission;
- material and intangible cultural heritage;
- identity, belonging and community memory;
- the role of technology in preserving, interpreting or reactivating memory.
Memory on Stage is interested in how artistic practice can examine the ways Lebanon remembers, forgets, preserves, contests and reconstructs its past. Proposals should demonstrate a clear artistic vision and a meaningful relationship between form, content and questions of memory.
The programme does not prescribe a single historical narrative or artistic form. Applicants are encouraged to approach their subject critically, responsibly, and imaginatively.
Projects selected in previous editions in
2025 and
2026 have ranged from a theatre performance to a documentary film and photography to animation, installation, live music, poetry, spoken word and dance. Applicants are encouraged to interpret the notion of performance expansively.
Who can apply
The call is open to:
- individual artists and cultural practitioners;
- informal artistic collectives with an identified lead applicant capable of entering into a contractual agreement;
- legally registered cultural or artistic organisations;
- interdisciplinary teams and collaborations.
Applicants must demonstrate an established professional artistic or cultural practice in Lebanon and relevant experience appropriate to the scale and nature of the proposed project. Eligibility is based primarily on professional practice in Lebanon rather than nationality.
Where an application is submitted by a collective or organisation, a lead representative must be identified for administrative and contractual purposes.
The contract can only be signed with registered non-profit organizations. Any individual artist or informal collective must select a host organization with which the contracts will be signed.
Project period and presentation
Selected projects will be developed and produced during the 2027 project period and presented as part of the Beirut Spring Festival 2027. The exact production calendar, milestones, technical schedule and presentation dates will be agreed with the selected applicant during contracting.
Applicants should submit a realistic work plan showing the stages required to research, create, rehearse, produce, install and present the proposed work.
Evaluation criteria
| Criterion | Weight | What assessors will consider |
|---|---|---|
| Relevance to Memory on Stage | 25% | Depth and clarity of engagement with memory, cultural heritage and the programme objectives; strength of the relationship between theme and artistic approach. |
| Artistic quality and originality | 25% | Clarity and strength of artistic vision; originality; coherence of form and content; quality of the proposed approach and relevant previous work. |
| Feasibility and work plan | 15% | Realism of the production plan, timeline, team, technical requirements and ability to deliver the proposed work within the Festival context. |
| Expected impact and audience relevance | 15% | Potential cultural and artistic value; relevance to intended audiences; capacity to generate reflection, engagement or meaningful access to memory and heritage. |
| Operational and financial capacity | 10% | Appropriateness of the team and applicant capacity to manage production, administration, reporting and funds responsibly. |
| Value for money | 10% | Reasonableness and coherence of costs in relation to the proposed artistic scope, outputs and expected results. |
Selection process
- Stage 1. Administrative and admissibility check - confirmation that the submission is complete and was received on time.
- Stage 2. Eligibility review - confirmation that the applicant and proposed project meet the conditions of the call.
- Stage 3. Artistic assessment - eligible proposals are scored against the published evaluation criteria by designated assessors.
- Stage 4. Clarification and, where useful, interview - shortlisted applicants may be asked to clarify artistic, technical, operational or financial aspects of the proposal.
- Stage 5. Due diligence - the Foundation may request legal, financial, rights, safeguarding or other documentation needed before an award is confirmed.
- Stage 6. Final decision and contracting - funding is confirmed only after successful completion of the required checks and signature of the contractual agreement.
A proposal must achieve the minimum quality threshold established by the selection committee to be considered for funding. The Samir Kassir Foundation reserves the right not to award funding if no application reaches the required standard, and to request reasonable adjustments to a selected proposal before contracting.
Conflict of interest and fairness
All assessors and decision-makers involved in the selection process will be required to disclose actual or potential conflicts of interest and to recuse themselves from the assessment of applications where a conflict exists.
Applications will be assessed only against the published criteria and the information submitted through the official application process
Indicative timeline
| Stage | Indicative date |
|---|---|
| Call launch | September 2026 |
| Deadline for questions | 20 November 2026 |
| Application deadline | 30 November 2026, 11:59 PM Beirut time |
| Administrative / eligibility review | 1-4 December 2026 |
| Artistic assessment and clarifications | 5-18 December 2026 |
| Provisional selection | By 21 December 2026 |
| Due diligence and contracting | December 2026-January 2027 |
Applicant FAQ
1. What is Memory on Stage?
Memory on Stage is an artistic creation programme of the Beirut Spring Festival developed within the European Union-funded Tech for Memory project. It supports contemporary artistic work engaging with Lebanon's fragmented histories, collective memory, and cultural heritage.
2. Who can apply?
Individual artists, cultural practitioners, informal collectives and eligible cultural or artistic organisations with an established professional practice in Lebanon may apply, subject to the conditions in the call.
However, the grant agreement can only be signed with a legally registered non-profit organisation. Individual applicants must therefore identify a host organisation that is willing to enter into the contractual agreement with the Samir Kassir Foundation on their behalf if the proposal is selected. The host organisation will assume the relevant contractual, financial and administrative responsibilities associated with the grant.
3. Do I need to be a Lebanese national?
The eligibility approach is based primarily on established artistic or cultural practice in Lebanon rather than nationality.
4. What artistic disciplines are eligible?
Theatre, music, dance, performance, film, visual or performative installation, digital and multimedia work, interdisciplinary practice and other contemporary artistic formats may be eligible. The artistic form should be appropriate to the project concept.
5. Does the project have to be a traditional stage performance?
No. Memory on Stage interprets the idea of the stage broadly. Installation, moving image, hybrid, site-responsive, digital and interdisciplinary forms may be considered where they are compatible with the Festival context.
6. Does my project have to use technology?
No, digital tools may be used where they meaningfully support research, creation, presentation, documentation or audience experience.
7. Can I propose an existing work?
The programme is intended to support creation and development. A substantial new development or adaptation of an existing work may be eligible if the application clearly identifies the new work to be undertaken through Memory on Stage. A simple reprise of a completed work would normally not be prioritised.
8. How much can I request?
A total funding envelope of EUR 30,000 is available under this call. The Samir Kassir Foundation may select one or more projects within this envelope. A selected proposal may request support up to the maximum stated in the call, currently drafted as EUR 30,000. Applicants may request less and should propose a budget proportionate to actual needs.
9. Do I have to request the full EUR 30,000?
No. Request only the amount needed to deliver the proposed work credibly. Value for money is part of the assessment.
10. Can artist fees be included?
Yes. Fair and reasonable fees for artists and other professionals working directly on the project should be included in the budget.
11. Can I purchase equipment?
Applicants should normally prioritise rental or project-specific services unless purchase is necessary and expressly eligible under the final grant conditions. Any proposed equipment purchase should be clearly justified.
12. Can I have other funders or partners?
Yes. All confirmed and anticipated co-funding, sponsorship and in-kind contributions must be declared clearly.
13. In which language can I apply?
The permitted application languages are Arabic, English, and French. The language chosen for submission will not affect evaluation.
14. How do I submit?
Applications must be submitted through the official online application form by 30 November 2026 at 11:59 PM Beirut time. Email submissions will not be accepted.
15. Can I edit my application after submitting it?
No. Applicants should assume that a submitted application is final.
16. How will I know my application was received?
The system will generate an automatic confirmation email with the applicant name, project title and submission timestamp.
17. What happens if the platform fails near the deadline?
Applicants should document the error and email
18. How will proposals be assessed?
Eligible proposals will be scored against six published criteria: relevance to Memory on Stage, artistic quality and originality, feasibility and work plan, expected impact and audience relevance, operational and financial capacity, and value for money.
19. Who will evaluate applications?
Applications will be reviewed by designated assessors or a selection committee appointed for the call. Assessors will be required to disclose conflicts of interest and recuse themselves where necessary.
20. Will there be interviews?
Shortlisted applicants may be invited to a clarification meeting or interview where the selection committee needs additional information about artistic, technical, operational or financial aspects of the proposal.
21. Does being shortlisted guarantee funding?
No. Any selection remains provisional until required due-diligence checks are completed and the contractual agreement is signed.
22. Who owns the finished work?
Artists and rights holders retain ownership of their underlying work. The final agreement will define the rights required by SKF/BSF and the project funder for presentation, documentation, communication, archival and reporting purposes.
23. Can I use archival material or personal testimony?
Yes, where relevant, but applicants are responsible for appropriate research practice, consent, permissions, attribution, rights clearance and the dignity and safety of participants.
24. Will accessibility costs be accepted?
Reasonable accessibility costs directly related to the approved project may be included, subject to the final budget eligibility rules.
25. Can I ask questions before applying?
Yes. Questions should be submitted through
26. Will unsuccessful applicants receive feedback?
All applicants will be informed of the outcome of the selection process. Individual feedback will not normally be provided.
27. When will results be announced?
The Public Call for Proposals publishes an indicative selection calendar. Applicants should note that a provisional selection may precede due diligence and contracting; public announcement will occur only once the necessary conditions are satisfied.
Before you apply
Applicants are invited to prepare their application materials in advance. The online application will ask for information about the applicant, the proposed artistic project, the team, production requirements, budget and supporting material. We recommend that longer narrative responses be drafted offline before beginning the form.
You will be asked to provide:
- Applicant information, including your professional or organisational profile, legal status, contact details, and primary fields of practice.
- Host organisation information, where applicable. Individual artists, informal collectives and other applicants that are not registered non-profit organisations must identify a legally registered non-profit host organisation.
- Project information, including the project title, artistic format, project status and a short summary.
- Artistic concept — up to 1,000 words.
- Connection to Memory on Stage — up to 600 words.
- Research, sources and materials — up to 500 words, including relevant information on archives, testimonies, permissions or ethical considerations where applicable.
- Artistic and production approach — up to 600 words.
- Information on audiences, accessibility, expected impact and the possible future life of the project.
- Key team members, partners or collaborators, and a project work plan with principal milestones.
- Technical and venue requirements, as well as the principal risks associated with delivering the project.
- The amount requested, information on any other funding or in-kind support, and a detailed budget breakdown.
- Up to five links to relevant previous work.
- A combined PDF containing the CVs or biographies of the lead applicant and key confirmed team members.
- Optional supporting material such as treatments, sketches, technical drawings or visual references.
At the end of the application, applicants will also be asked to confirm the accuracy of the information submitted, responsibility for securing the necessary rights and permissions, any relevant conflicts of interest, and acknowledgement of the privacy notice.
Please allow sufficient time to complete your application. We strongly recommend preparing longer written responses and supporting documents before completing the online form.
