The Sursock Museum is pleased to spotlight the first edition of AMAR’s pioneering multidisciplinary Biennale, dedicated to music, archives, and performative arts from the Arabic-speaking region. Rooted in research and archival material, the Biennale seeks to revive cultural and political histories, recover narratives, and provide access to a growing repository of audiovisual and written research.

The 2025 edition, titled Songs of Satire, focuses on the socio-political satirical song throughout the 20th century. The program includes an artists’ residency, research publication, panel discussions, screenings, music performances, an AI installation, and a digital catalogue.

Drawing from historical recordings, the Biennale traces the role of satirical music in shaping public opinion, navigating censorship, and reflecting socio-political and economic conditions across the region. It also seeks to preserve a disappearing oral tradition and shed light on unrecorded songs at risk of being lost.

Detailed schedule here.