- 14:00
Founded and directed by Fabienne Touma, the platform El Fan is preparing to launch two exhibitions in Paris and Clermont-Ferrand, showcasing emerging Lebanese artists and initiating a unique cultural dialogue between Lebanon and Europe. The exhibitions, highlighting Lebanese contemporary art in two distinct cities, will take place in Paris on April 26–27, 2025, and in Clermont-Ferrand from May 3 to 31, 2025.
Since its inception in November 2022, El Fan has established itself as a key player in the French-Lebanese cultural landscape. Driven by Fabienne Touma’s vision and based in France, the platform functions as both a directory of artists and a committed project designed to amplify Lebanese artistic voices internationally.
“When I first arrived in France, I spent time learning how the cultural sector works here, hoping to eventually bring that knowledge back to Lebanon,” says Touma. “But returning became impossible due to the situation back home. That’s when I decided to launch projects from France—initiatives tailored to support Lebanese artists wherever they are.”
Inspired by the official regional directories of artists she found in France, she set out to create something similar for Lebanon: a platform dedicated to identifying, organizing and promoting Lebanese artists across all disciplines. “I started by reaching out to artists in visual arts—painting, photography, illustration, engraving—and gradually expanded to include performing arts, theater, dance and more recently, cinema,” she explains.
Today, the platform includes between 90 and 100 Lebanese artists from around the world. El Fan does not impose exclusivity. “Every artist remains free to manage their own career. What we provide is visibility, opportunities to exhibit, access to training and even production support. The idea is to help artists gain international recognition while respecting their creative independence.”
Over time, El Fan has become much more than a directory, it is now a dynamic cultural network. The platform organizes pop-ups, exhibitions, roundtables, artist salons and media content to foster the integration of Lebanese artists into the European arts scene, particularly in France and Belgium. “My mission is to grow this network while providing artists with tools and real opportunities to learn, connect and grow professionally,” she adds.
One of El Fan’s pillars is knowledge-sharing. “Over the past two years, I’ve been building the platform while also producing content and organizing training sessions. I aim to provide artists with the practical tools they need—how to apply for residencies, write project proposals or navigate institutional networks,” says Touma.
In addition to promotion and training, El Fan offers tailored production services based on the artists’ needs. “That might include project coordination, set design or technical production for events, anything that helps artists advance their careers in concrete ways.”
With two upcoming events, El Fan is taking a decisive step forward, opening new spaces for visibility and building long-term bridges between Lebanese and European creative scenes.
The first El Fan Pop-Up Store will take place April 26–27, 2025, at Galerie Aalamuna in Paris. The two-day event will feature a vibrant mix of visual art by Danielle El Hayek, Jimmy El Homsi, Marie-José Ayoub, Fabienne Touma, Mariam Dahdah, Pascal Hares, Maria Karkour, Cynthia Nehmé, Nadim El Khoury, Sary Asmar, and the collective Ateliers ël. A cocktail reception on Saturday evening will open the event in a festive and welcoming atmosphere. The initiative was made possible thanks to the support of Fabienne Abou-Jaoude, the gallery’s owner, who offered this beautiful space for El Fan’s debut.
Following Paris, El Fan will head to Clermont-Ferrand for an exhibition running from May 3 to 31, 2025, at Galerie Artelier, soon to be renamed Galerie Reine Mathilde. This exhibition follows in the footsteps of a prior collaboration that aligned with the Clermont-Ferrand Short Film Festival’s spotlight on Lebanon.
For this second show, Fabienne Touma joins forces with Mathilde André, founder of the gallery and an artist herself. Together, they will present the works of Jimmy El Homsi, Danielle El Hayek, Hadi Chmait (aka Hadi Saab) and Mario Zaher. This will mark the first exhibition of Lebanese artists in the region. It will also coincide with “Lézard en balade,” a city-wide art trail held from May 24 to 26, bringing contemporary art directly into the streets of Clermont-Ferrand.
With these two exhibitions, El Fan encourages connection, visibility and dialogue. It empowers Lebanese artists to expand their reach and make their mark on the international stage.
Comments