Ministry of Culture (Lebanon)
Encyclopedia
The Ministry of Culture is a government ministry
of Lebanon
.
in 1993. originally as part of the Ministry of Culture and Higher Education
from which it became a separate entity in August 2000. A new law was passed in October 2008 regarding a re-structuring for the Ministry. It now has responsibility over matters of heritage
, antiquities
, arts
, literature
, cultural industries and management of cultural and historical property.
, organising and sponsoring literary and artistic affairs, developing the knowledge economy
and establishing and co-ordinating expertise. Responsibilities include proposing draft law
s and regulations, promoting creativity
, research and productivity, promoting innovative products, establishing cultural facilities, archaeological surveys and excavations, preservation and public display of antiques
and managing ancient sites. The ministry also supports and facilitates research in cultural fields organizes cultural events and conferences.
and The Joint Administrative Service. It also runs The Baakleen National Library, the General Authority for Museums and the National Higher Institute of Music. It is also attached to the National Committee for Education, Knowledge and Culture.
who represents the Free Patriotic Movement
.
Ministry (government department)
A ministry is a specialised organisation responsible for a sector of government public administration, sometimes led by a minister or a senior public servant, that can have responsibility for one or more departments, agencies, bureaus, commissions or other smaller executive, advisory, managerial or...
of Lebanon
Lebanon
Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
.
History
The Ministry was formed after the Lebanese Civil WarLebanese Civil War
The Lebanese Civil War was a multifaceted civil war in Lebanon. The war lasted from 1975 to 1990 and resulted in an estimated 150,000 to 230,000 civilian fatalities. Another one million people were wounded, and today approximately 350,000 people remain displaced. There was also a mass exodus of...
in 1993. originally as part of the Ministry of Culture and Higher Education
Higher education
Higher, post-secondary, tertiary, or third level education refers to the stage of learning that occurs at universities, academies, colleges, seminaries, and institutes of technology...
from which it became a separate entity in August 2000. A new law was passed in October 2008 regarding a re-structuring for the Ministry. It now has responsibility over matters of heritage
Heritage
Heritage refers to something inherited from the past. The word has several different senses, including:* Natural heritage, an inheritance of fauna and flora, geology, landscape and landforms, and other natural resources...
, antiquities
Antiquities
Antiquities, nearly always used in the plural in this sense, is a term for objects from Antiquity, especially the civilizations of the Mediterranean: the Classical antiquity of Greece and Rome, Ancient Egypt and the other Ancient Near Eastern cultures...
, arts
ARts
aRts, which stands for analog Real time synthesizer, is an audio framework that is no longer under development. It is best known for previously being used in KDE to simulate an analog synthesizer....
, literature
Literature
Literature is the art of written works, and is not bound to published sources...
, cultural industries and management of cultural and historical property.
Tasks and responsibilities
The ministry's remit includes various tasks such as planning cultural and sectoral policyPolicy
A policy is typically described as a principle or rule to guide decisions and achieve rational outcome. The term is not normally used to denote what is actually done, this is normally referred to as either procedure or protocol...
, organising and sponsoring literary and artistic affairs, developing the knowledge economy
Knowledge economy
The knowledge economy is a term that refers either to an economy of knowledge focused on the production and management of knowledge in the frame of economic constraints, or to a knowledge-based economy. In the second meaning, more frequently used, it refers to the use of knowledge technologies to...
and establishing and co-ordinating expertise. Responsibilities include proposing draft law
Law
Law is a system of rules and guidelines which are enforced through social institutions to govern behavior, wherever possible. It shapes politics, economics and society in numerous ways and serves as a social mediator of relations between people. Contract law regulates everything from buying a bus...
s and regulations, promoting creativity
Creativity
Creativity refers to the phenomenon whereby a person creates something new that has some kind of value. What counts as "new" may be in reference to the individual creator, or to the society or domain within which the novelty occurs...
, research and productivity, promoting innovative products, establishing cultural facilities, archaeological surveys and excavations, preservation and public display of antiques
Antiques
An antique is an old collectible item. It is collected or desirable because of its age , beauty, rarity, condition, utility, personal emotional connection, and/or other unique features...
and managing ancient sites. The ministry also supports and facilitates research in cultural fields organizes cultural events and conferences.
Structure
The Ministry is divided into three units, The Directorate General of Cultural Affairs, The Directorate General of AntiquitiesDirectorate General of Antiquities
The Directorate General of Antiquities is a Lebanese government directorate, technical unit of the Ministry of Culture and is responsible for the protection, promotion and excavation activities in all sites of national heritage in Lebanon. Frederic Husseini is the Director General with other...
and The Joint Administrative Service. It also runs The Baakleen National Library, the General Authority for Museums and the National Higher Institute of Music. It is also attached to the National Committee for Education, Knowledge and Culture.
Minister
The current minister of culture, since June 2011, is Gaby LayounGaby Layoun
Gaby Layoun is the Lebanese Minister of Culture, announced as part of the new cabinet in June 2011. He represents the Free Patriotic Movement.-References:...
who represents the Free Patriotic Movement
Free Patriotic Movement
The Free Patriotic Movement , also known as the "Aounist Movement" , is a Lebanese political party, led by Michel Aoun and allied with Hezbollah, The movement was officially declared a political party on September 18, 2005Though most of the party's support comes from Lebanon's...
.
Former Ministers
- Michel Eddeh (1993 - 1996)
- Fawzi Hobeiche (1996 - 1998)
- Mohamad Youssef Baydoun (1998 - 2000)
- Ghassan Salameh (2000 - 2003)
- Ghazi Al-Aridi (2003 - 2004)
- Nsji Al-Boustani (2004 - 2005)
- Karam Karam (2005 - 2005)
- Assaad Rizk (2005 - 2005)
- Tarek Mitri (2005 - 2008)
- Tammam Salam (2008 - 2009)
- Salim WardehSalim WardehSalim Wardeh was the Minister of Culture in Lebanon until June 2011, when he was replaced by Gaby Layoun. Wardeh is a Catholic Christian and is a member of the Lebanese Forces which in turn is a member of the March 14 Alliance. Wardeh is a member of the board of directors of Tell Shiha Hospital...
(2009 - 2011) - Gaby Layyoun (2011-incumbent)