Haven for Artists

What Haven for Artists does

Haven for Artists (HFA) is a registered Lebanese NGO founded in 2011 by a group of artists and activists in Beirut. It operates a physical community center (Sassine Street, Achrafieh) and a digital platform that together host workshops, exhibitions, festivals, concerts, book and film clubs, panels, advocacy campaigns, artist residencies, and a feminist public library. Programming is rooted in intersectional feminism, gender and racial justice, and decolonial practices, and serves unrepresented and marginalized artists and communities in Lebanon and the broader MENA region, including LGBTQI+ individuals, refugees, and women.

Haven runs eight core program lines: workshops, exhibitions, events and festivals, campaigns, publications, artist residencies, the community center (Haven House) housing artist studios and a feminist public library, and an online donation platform. The technology footprint is intentionally minimal — a WordPress-based website at havenforartists.org, an Instagram channel (@havenforartists), email communications, and a Bank of Beirut Mastercard payment gateway for donation processing. There are no proprietary technology products, APIs, or AI components disclosed.

The organization is funded primarily through individual donations (preset $20/$50/$100 tiers and custom amounts) and project-based grants from international foundations such as Tides Foundation, Prince Claus Fund, British Council Lebanon, Anna Lindh Foundation, WPHF, and Heinrich Boell Foundation. Most events and workshops are free or donation-based. Revenue, headcount, and audited financials are not disclosed; in 2024 the organization explicitly downsized its physical footprint due to financial constraints in the regional arts sector.

Name

Haven for Artists

Legal name

Haven for Artists

Website

https://havenforartists.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Haven for Artists is a Beirut-based nonprofit founded in 2011 that runs a community center and digital platform hosting workshops, exhibitions, residencies, and cultural programs for unrepresented and marginalized artists and communities in Lebanon and the MENA region.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Cultural Programming

NAICS

Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions (7121), Other Performing Arts Companies (711190)

akta.pro primary industry

Cultural Centers & Community Cultural Organizations (BPAGAHAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Cultural Festivals & Events Organizations (BPAGAHAG), Performing Arts Organizations (Theater, Dance, Opera, Music) (BPAGAHAB), Arts & Culture Service/Support Organizations (Networks, Advocacy, Capacity Building) (BPAGAHAL), Crafts & Maker Arts (Ceramics, Textiles, Jewelry, Mixed Media) (EDAMAAAD), Arts & Crafts Workshops (Painting, Pottery, Ceramics, Sculpture) (THAJAKAA)

Keywords

• Cultural programming services
• Artist residency programs
• Community arts center
• Feminist cultural organization
• Arts workshops exhibitions

Headquarters

HQ city

Beirut

HQ country

Lebanon

HQ region

Middle East

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations: Individual donations accepted through the website via Bank of Beirut payment gateway. Donation options include preset amounts ($20, $50, $100) and custom amounts. Donations help sustain the organization's operations.
2. Foundation Grants: Funding received from international foundations and organizations including Tides Foundation, Prince Claus Fund, British Council Lebanon, Anna Lindh Foundation, and others to support specific programs and workshops.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Haven for Artists is a cultural feminist organization based in Beirut, Lebanon that operates a physical community center and digital platform hosting artist residencies, exhibitions, workshops, festivals, and advocacy campaigns for marginalized artists and communities. The organization sustains operations through donations and foundation grants while providing artist studios, a feminist public library, and cultural publications, with most events free or donation-based.

Product overview

Haven for Artists (HFA) is a cultural feminist organization based in Beirut, Lebanon, operating as a physical and digital platform for cultural works and knowledge production. Founded in 2011, it provides a comprehensive portfolio of programs including artist residencies, exhibitions, workshops, events/festivals, campaigns, and publications. The organization maintains Haven House as a community center with artist studios and a feminist public library, while also operating an online donation platform for supporter contributions. Programs focus on intersectional feminism, gender and racial justice, and decolonial practices.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Workshops Program Educational workshops covering creative skills including visual arts, digital tools, theater, poetry, music, pottery, and professional development, intended for artists and the broader community.
• Exhibitions Visual art exhibitions featuring local and regional artists, including photography, installations, performance art, and collaborative shows such as 'face to face' (80 portraits) and 'Radical: Choice and Consequence'.
• Events and Festivals Cultural events including film clubs, book clubs, concerts, poetry nights, market fairs, panel discussions, and community gatherings open to the public on a free or donation-based basis.
• Publications Printed and digital publications including guidebooks, reports, and artistic works produced by the organization and its community, made available through the website.
• Artist Residency Program Artist-in-residence programs hosting international and local artists for creative work and community engagement, including consecutive residency exchanges with peer organizations in the MENA region.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 200+ events hosted from 2013-2019, with peak of 74 events in 2017
• +2 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• British Council LebanoncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 January 2023British Council Lebanon partnered on the 'Cultural Examination' series of 4 panels examining production, collaboration, and practice development within the local, regional, and international art scene. This was part of the Momentum Programme.
• Institut Français du LibancoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInstitut Français du Liban collaborated on multiple events including 'Vices & Validations' (visual exhibitions, concerts, performances, artist talks) and 'Radical: Choice and Consequence' (2017), hosting over 40 artists.
• Roundhouse (UK)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRoundhouse UK supported the Beirut Poetry Slam 2016, with winners getting the opportunity to compete in London.
• Green Project and AUBminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on 'Parking Day in Beirut', an annual international event transforming parking spaces into temporary public parks.
• MacaocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMacao collaborated on 'MENA-logue', a project creating dialogue between Beirut (MENA) and Milan (Europe), representing LGBTQI+ individuals from the Middle East.
• Heinrich Boell Foundation Beirut OfficeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHeinrich Boell Foundation partnered on the launch of 'Yours Truly, From Idlib' book documenting Syrian civilians' resilience.
• Khamoshi FilmsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerKhamoshi Films, a community-based feminist film collective founded by Mahnoor Mahar, collaborated on the 'To Speculate' writing workshop.
• The Backdoor (Beirut)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Back Door venue in Beirut hosted events including 'Backdoor Sessions' jam sessions and 'Another F*cking Party' events.
• Ego BeirutminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with Ego Beirut on 'Leave Britney Alone: The Hip Hop Party' featuring old school hip-hop, RnB, and Arabic pop.
• Queens Collective (Marrakech, Morocco)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegina Mamou and Lara Salmon (Research for the Bermuda Triangle) participated in consecutive residency programs at Haven in Beirut and Queens Collective in Marrakech.
• Tariq el Nahl (medicine collective)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRianna, who facilitated the Intuitive Foraging workshop, connected with Tariq el Nahl collective for exchange of knowledge around native plants in Lebanon.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves12 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Regional players

• Townhouse Gallery: Cairo-based independent art space hosting exhibitions, workshops, residencies, and community programs. Comparable as a MENA community art space with mission-driven programming for emerging and marginalized artists.
• Darat al Funun: Amman-based cultural institution and arts organization hosting exhibitions, residencies, and library/archive programs for regional artists. Comparable as a MENA cultural center with a similar mission of supporting Arab artists.

Broad incumbents

• Triangle Network: Global network of artist residencies and art organizations founded by the late Charles Esche. Comparable as a broader umbrella supporting artist residencies and knowledge exchange similar to Haven's residency program.

Direct peers

• Beirut Art Center: Beirut-based nonprofit institution hosting exhibitions, screenings, talks, and publications on contemporary art. Closely aligned as a Beirut venue providing physical space and cultural programming to artists and audiences.
• Ashkal Alwan: Beirut-based contemporary art association supporting artists through residencies, exhibitions, and publications. Most directly comparable peer as a Lebanese nonprofit platform for experimental art production with similar programming formats.
• Station Beirut: Beirut-based art and culture platform producing exhibitions, performances, and cultural events in a physical venue. Directly comparable as a Beirut-based cultural programming venue.

Others

• Arab Fund for Arts and Culture (AFAC): Regional grant-making institution funding Arab artists and cultural organizations across the MENA region. Related as a peer funder that also co-participated in Haven's grant writing workshop, and operates in adjacent MENA cultural infrastructure.

Emerging players

• Artellewa Art Space: Independent community art space in Cairo providing studio space, residencies, and exhibitions for emerging artists. Comparable as a grassroots MENA art space with similar DIY, community-led operating model.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/havenforartists
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/haven-for-artists

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Haven for Artists