Ishbilia Theatre and Art Hub is an independent art house and theater, established in the historic city of Saida, South Lebanon. Re-opened in 2018, Ishbilia has a longer history in Lebanon, having first been established in 1980 as a hub of resistance through art, Ishbilia was forced to close it’s doors in 2007 for financial and social reasons. Since 2018, Ishbilia has reopened as a dynamic hub for culture and knowledge, particularly focusing on arts and culture programmes. Ishbilia is a cinema, theater, coworking and cultural space, targeted to young curators, artists, intellectuals, and students, providing a supportive, engaging hub that is accessible, independent, to promote a safe and inspiring space for youth.
One of the primary aims of Ishibilia theater in Sidon, is contributing to making the city a place for connection, creativity, community, and inclusivity. Ishbilia aims to foster this environment by providing tools for creative expression, innovation, and diverse artistic practices for youth in South Lebanon. Additionally , the theater is able to promote and ensure a thriving independent space by having a highly equipped and accessible space, as well as providing services, such as no rental fees. Our primary beneficiaries are local and international artists, community activists, cultural practitioners, supporters and lovers of theater and cinema, and students.
In addition to the 447 seats cinema, Ishbilia, as a cultural hub, has organized and held open-mic events, plays, and musical concerts, in addition to promoting the use of space for independent actors and youth to hold their own events and activities. In line with this, different workshops and trainings have been organized and taken place in the space. Most recently, in 2023, a monthly programme, “ Ishbilia Talks”, was launched, which features guest speakers from different sectors to talk about their journey and exchange insights and perspectives with our community.
