Lebanese Artists Are in Urgent Need of a Public Exhibition Hall in the Heart of the Capital

Lebanese artists and lovers of art still lament the absence of an official public hall in which artists might exhibit their paintings, and which would serve as a permanent exhibition for art. And although the existence of the Lebanese Academy of Fine Arts has created an excellent venue of this kind, the need remains pressing for a great hall, properly lit, in which paintings may be shown. The Lebanese artist Mr. Saliba Douaihy has addressed this statement to His Excellency the President:

To His Excellency the President of the Lebanese Republic

Since Your Excellency has shown on numerous occasions your readiness to assist artists and to raise the standard of art in beautiful Lebanon, I come to draw Your Excellency's attention to an important matter in this regard.

Your esteemed government is proceeding with projects for the beautification of Beirut, and since the city of Beirut lacks a hall in which the products of Lebanese art may be exhibited and in which literary and artistic lectures of every kind may be delivered, we ask Your Excellency that the establishment of such a hall be included within the beautification project. You would thereby have rendered Lebanese art a great service, beside which all the financial assistance you might generously grant in this field would be feeble and unavailing; and the city of Beirut would thereby be stamped in the mold of the great, advanced cities; and Lebanese and non-Lebanese alike would have the opportunity to acquaint themselves with the development of Lebanese art and its excellence.

In the hope that this request may win your lofty sympathy, I beg you, Your Excellency the President, to accept my highest respect.