The Institut des cultures arabes et méditerranéennes (Institute for Arab and Mediterranean Cultures (ICAM)) is an association and Geneva cultural center for the promotion of Arab and Mediterranean cultures in Switzerland.
| Institut des cultures arabes et méditerranéennes (ICAM) | |
 | |
| Founder | Alain Bittar, Patrice Mugny |
|---|---|
| Type | Cultural Center, Association,Concert Hall |
| Purpose | promotion of Arab and Mediterranean cultures in Switzerland |
| Location |
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| Official language | French |
| Website | http://www.icamge.ch/ |
History
Founded in 2013 by former maire of Geneva, Patrice Mugny and the Lebanese-Sudanese bookseller Alain Bittar, the aim of the institute is to promote the cultures of the Arab world and to establish an intercultural exchange between Switzerland and the Arab world. Supported by the Canton of Geneva and the city government, the cultural center promotes as an association the recognition of Arabic-speaking communities in Geneva society and its history.
Exhibitions and concerts
The Institute organizes and promotes shows, conferences, concerts and exhibitions related to its goals and objectives.
Exhibitions
The institute houses an exhibition space for contemporary art: the Galerie d'Olivier, exhibiting shows directly linked to Arab and Mediterranean cultures. Since 2016, artists such as Wajih Nahlé (Lebanon), Nja Mah Daoui (Tunisia) Nazir Ismail (Syria), Mohamed Al Dabous (Palestine), Mohamed Al Hawajri (Gaza) Sohail Salem (Gaza), Ali Taraghijah (Iran), Towhidi Tabari (Iran), Salah Taher (Egypt), Khali Hamra (Palestine) and Gianni Motti (Switzerland) have been represented at the Institute. Alain Bittar (ICAM) and Curator Nuria Delgado from Vesaniart, Málaga showed the works of Abraham Benzadón, Ana Pavón, Julia Diazdel, Mar Aragón, Daniel Garbade, Pedro Peña, Sebastián Navas and Kelly Fischer in the exposition about the Al-Andalus in cooperation with the University of Malaga in 2020. Swiss artist Daniel Garbade also participated in this exhibition, and again in 2022 with his individual show entitled: Willam Tell is Andalusian.
Concerts
The ICAM also organizes concerts by renowned musicians such as Karim Wasfi, Marcel Khalifé accompanied by Rami Khalifé and Aymeric Westrich in the Alhambra or the Fête de l'Olivier, the first Arab music festival in Switzerland.
Notes and references
- Jourdan, Alain (2019-10-10). "Alain Bittar, gardien de secrets et de livres interdits depuis quarante ans". TDG (in French). ISSN 1010-2248. Retrieved 2020-01-26.
- "ARTISTES". Institut des cultures arabes et méditerranéennes (ICAM). 2014-07-14. Retrieved 2020-01-26.
- Pool, Raúl Sanchez (2020-11-06). "VESANIART Art Gallery organiza una exposición de artistas españoles en Suiza". Style International (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 2021-02-26. Retrieved 2021-02-01.
- ICAM (2019-10-25). "Concert de Karim Wasfi (Iraq) à l'ICAM-L'Olivier (2019-11-07)". Institut des cultures arabes et méditerranéennes (ICAM). Retrieved 2020-01-26.
- "OLIVE TREE FESTIVAL – ARABIC AND MEDITERRANEAN MUSIC". Things to do in Geneva. 2019-09-16. Retrieved 2020-01-26.