Beirut: Minister of Culture Ghassan Salam© visited the “Beirut Port” exhibition at the Architectural and Urban Observatory – Beit Beirut in Sodeco, accompanied by his advisor, architect Jad Tabet. After touring the exhibition, which addressed the repercussions of the port’s reconstruction on the city of Beirut, the Minister of Culture commented on its significance.

According to National News Agency – Lebanon, Salam© stated that Beit Beirut is fulfilling its purpose by shedding light on the calamities that have befallen the city, particularly the 2020 explosion, and also on the potential future role of Beirut in the region’s economy and social fabric. He described the exhibition as an academic yet accessible initiative, hoping to see school students learn about their capital’s history and reflect on its future, given the various choices regarding reconstruction and rebuilding Beirut.

The Minister congratulated Beit Beirut on the initiative, emphasizing its dual role as a repository of the city’s memory and a laboratory for contemplating its future. He highlighted the intertwined relationship between the city and its port, both vital to each other. He noted that the exhibition serves as a place for remembering Beirut’s past calamities, including the civil war and the 2020 port explosion, and for contemplating its future.

Before departing, Salam©, prompted by the “Tell Me” initiative, penned a note reflecting on the philosophical significance of the port silos, stating they represent a balance between remembering and forgetting, both essential to freedom.

The exhibition was curated by Hala Younes, Mona Hallak, and Hadi Mroueh, supported by the Directorate General of Antiquities – Ministry of Culture, and the Oriental Library – Saint Joseph University in Beirut. It was produced through the efforts of the “Tell Me” initiative, active since April 2025 in reopening Beit Beirut.