Creative Dialogues is described as a regional platform — could you tell us more about what it is, who is behind it, and why it was launched?
Creative Dialogues is a regional platform designed to connect emerging talents, established practitioners, and institutions across the creative industries in the MENA region. Launched in 2023 after a series of smaller pilot event, it is produced by YVT Consultancy, a strategy consultancy focused on integrating strategic and creative thinking into human-centered strategies.
From our 2023 edition, we identified six core challenges facing the regional creative ecosystem and responded with four key initiatives this year:
- Building an online platform for MENA creatives.
- Developing a curated program tailored for university students.
- Expanding regional partnerships with cultural institutions.
- Co-creating with communities, giving them a voice and platform.
We’re excited to relaunch in 2025 with Beirut and Cairo as anchor destinations, while mapping future editions in Muscat, Manama, Marrakesh, Abu Dhabi, and Riyadh. As an annual event, planning for the 2026 edition is already underway. Ultimately, our mission is to empower the next generation of creatives, foster networks across the region, and highlight creativity as both a driver of social cohesion and an engine of economic growth.
How were the young talents and student participants chosen, and what kind of support will they receive beyond the event?
Participants were selected in collaboration with our partners. For students, we designed a dedicated day of programming with academic institutions, LAU, while with Majal Design School we focused on emerging talent, many of whom are women pursuing creativity later in life or after career shifts. Their open call emphasized diversity of backgrounds and disciplines, using weaving as the guiding medium set by the curator.
We sought individuals who not only excel creatively but also demonstrate a commitment to collaboration and social impact.
Beyond the event, participants gain access to mentorship, our growing network, online workshops, and opportunities for long-term collaboration with regional and international partners.
The program emphasizes cross-disciplinary collaboration. What concrete outcomes or projects do you hope will emerge from this year’s edition?
We are aiming for three main outcomes:
- Collaborative Projects: Creatives from design, music, architecture, digital media, and more working together on cross-disciplinary projects.
- Research Report: Insights and recommendations to be shared with partners, institutions, and policymakers to strengthen collective understanding.
- Sustainable Connections: Platforms and tools that keep participants co-creating beyond the event, underscoring creativity as a universal language.
We also anticipate broader regional engagement, with interest this year already coming from Oman, Kuwait, Bahrain, UAE, and Saudi Arabia. Our goal is to spark a new era of cross-border collaboration.
With Beirut as an anchor city and future editions planned across the MENA region, how do you envision Creative Dialogues shaping a shared regional creative identity?
Beirut, historically a cultural hub where East and West converge, is the natural birthplace of this initiative. By moving across different cities in the MENA region, Creative Dialogues both celebrates the uniqueness of each local ecosystem and identifies shared challenges and opportunities.
The goal isn’t to homogenize, but to create a sense of interconnectedness, showing artists and creatives that they are part of a larger regional movement. This shared identity is built on diversity, collaboration, and collective vision.
Day Three focuses on cultural legacy and sustainability. How will the conversations translate into actionable change for Lebanon’s creative industries and communities?
We’re working with local partners such as Beit Beirut and Hkeeli to ensure discussions lead to concrete steps. Through roundtables and collaborative sessions specifically on day three, we will identify pressing challenges and establish objectives for the 2026 edition. These outcomes will also be captured in a post-event report, ensuring accountability and continuity from year to year.
Given Lebanon’s current challenges, what specific impact do you hope Creative Dialogues will leave on Beirut and its local creative community?
Our hope is to reignite confidence in Beirut’s creative spirit at a time when many face instability. By providing visibility to local talents, engaging with regional partners, and fostering solidarity, we aim to strengthen the city’s role as a cultural capital.
If we can leave behind new opportunities, stronger networks, and a sense of shared purpose, then Creative Dialogues will have achieved its mission. But this isn’t just an event, it’s a movement that will continue to grow year after year.
Stephani Moukhaiber
Stephani Moukhaiber is the founder and CEO of Al Rawiya, a media company amplifying voices from the Levant and its diaspora. She also leads Al Rawiya Studio, the creative and strategic arm of the company, providing branding, content, and media services to clients. In addition, she serves as the Director of Programs and Operations at the 2048 Foundation, overseeing program strategy, communications, grants management, and operational excellence. Originally, Stephani worked as an organizational development consultant specializing in workplace strategy, including roles at global tech and consulting firms.
- Stephani Moukhaiber
- Stephani Moukhaiber
- Stephani Moukhaiber
- Stephani Moukhaiber
- Stephani Moukhaiber
- Stephani Moukhaiber
- Stephani Moukhaiber
- Stephani Moukhaiber
- Stephani Moukhaiber
