Sursock Museum in Beirut reopens after 3 years since 2020 port explosion.

The Sursock Museum in Beirut, the first modern art gallery in the Arab world, has reopened its doors three years after being damaged by the 2020 Beirut port explosion. The museum underwent extensive restoration work, including repairing 57 damaged artworks and restoring the building’s ceilings, panels, air conditioning, electrical systems, elevators and skylights. The museum’s stained glass windows, which were blown out by the explosion, actually helped save the building’s structure by allowing it to breathe. The $3m project was financed by international donors, but the Lebanese government provided no support. The museum is now an independent cultural institution in a country experiencing a financial crisis. Despite this, director Karina Helou is confident that funding will be secured for the next five years.