Ibraaz has announced the opening of a new cultural space in London, set to launch on 3 October 2025.
The establishment of a physical space in London, an initiative of the Kamel Lazaar Foundation, expands upon the Ibraaz online literary platform launched in 2011, which focuses on amplifying artistic and cultural voices from the MENA region.
Ibraaz, meaning “to shine a light on” in Arabic, will be a space committed to showcasing art and culture from what Ibraaz refers to as the “Global Majority”, with a dedicated programme of exhibitions and events taking place year-round in the British capital.
Housed in an historic Grade II-listed building at 93 Mortimer Street in the centre of London, Ibraaz’s headquarters have been re-designed by Sumayya Vally, architect-in-residence, with an emphasis on creating a space which will continue to evolve over time, informed by the people it will host and with an architectural spirit inspired by the numerous diasporic gathering spaces in London.
Ghanaian artist Ibrahim Mahama will be the first to exhibit in the new space, with a new exhibition entitled Parliament of Ghosts and which will coincide with Ibraaz’s launch. The site-specific installation work will build upon a long-term research project to explore Ghana after independence through repurposed objects that include colonial furniture, jute sacks, and freshly constructed items. Additionally, the Otolith Collective will debut as the first library-in-residence, adding to the wide-ranging public programming which also includes a bookshop and café.
Hospitality is at the core of Ibraaz’s ethos, with the varied programming encouraging expression and conversation across borders in a space which will serve as a place for various communities to gather, with both online and in-person exhibitions and cultural content.
“Our ambition has always been to expand beyond regional framings and build a truly global platform,” says Lina Lazaar, founder of Ibraaz and vice president of the Kamel Lazaar Foundation. “At a time when so many are seeking safe spaces, our aim is to go one step further – to build a brave space that offers cultural experiences which not only address the issues of our time but also envision the futures we can create together.”
