Levantine Cultural Center

Mission Statement

Mission
Levantine Cultural Center champions a greater understanding of the Middle East and North Africa by presenting artistic and educational programs that bridge political and religious divides. In a search for common ground, the Center fosters discussions among artists and thinkers and offers classes and workshops that serve diverse ethnic communities.

Cultural Context
Levantine Cultural Center includes majority and minority cultures, stretching from the historical Al-Andalus of southern Spain and Morocco to the Balkans, Greece, Turkey and across North Africa and the Middle East as far as Afghanistan and Pakistan. It includes the creative work of Arabs, Jews and other ethnic/religious groups with Mideast origins who are living in the West.

Where We Stand on Middle East Peace
Many Israelis and Palestinians have come to the conclusion that there is simply no violent solution to the conflict, and that only a peaceful and just negotiated settlement will bring about change in the region. With them, Levantine Cultural Center supports only non-violent approaches to cross-cultural understanding. All of our programs emphasize the need for coexistence and taking shared responsibility.

Vision
Levantine Cultural Center produces or cosponsors artistic programs that encourage cross-cultural and multidisciplinary collaborations, and that give voice to issues and experiences of underrepresented Middle Eastern communities in order to bring informative and alternative information on these communities to the American public and media.

We partner with community groups and artists that engage in cross-cultural initiatives or the education of a broader public with cultural/social relevance. We strive to work collaboratively with multigenerational, multiethnic, multidisciplinary and/or broad geographic communities in response to cultural/social issues articulated by those communities.

Levantine Cultural Center seeks to support the publication and dissemination of research that substantiates the importance of the arts in influencing social change; and the dissemination of information about collaborative projects that leads to effective public education about Mideast cultures and issues.

Levantine Cultural Center is strongly non-partisan and non-sectarian. We do not espouse any political or religious doctrine, and we are committed to the principles of cross-cultural cooperation.

Mid-term Goal
Raise $2,000,000 in FY 2013, allowing for the addition of professional staff members (development director, publicity manager etc.) and expansion of our facility so that we can meet the current demand for both programs and classes. We seek to expand our performance space from a capacity that serves approximately 100 people to a space that can accommodate 250 people; we also require additional office space and classrooms (for language, music and dance classes), along with a conference room.

Long-term Goal
Launch a capital campaign in 2014 with the objective to raise $20-$100 million for the creation of a landmark arts complex that will be a mecca for Middle Eastern/North African cultures in Southern California.
LOS ANGELES OFFICES
Levantine Cultural Center & Inside/Outside Gallery
5998 W Pico Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90035-2657
Event Reservations 323.413.2001
Tel: 310.657.5511
Fax: 310.657.5522
Media Inquiries only: 310.402.8866