Manazir is a vibrant platform dedicated to modern and contemporary visual arts, architecture, and heritage of the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). Whether you are a researcher, museum curator, educator, or cultural professional, Manazir provides a space for the study, preservation, and promotion of this dynamic field, connecting audiences across borders and languages.
Manazir’s mission is twofold, through its website and social media channels, Manazir amplifies information on:
- Upcoming exhibitions, conferences, and teaching initiatives.
- Publications exploring the richness of MENA’s artistic and architectural production (1800-present).
Together with its community, Manazir creates:
- Manazir Journal, a peer-reviewed, open-access, multilingual publication highlighting innovative and interdisciplinary research.
- Public events such as exhibition visits and round table discussions, fostering collaboration and knowledge exchange among scholars and cultural professionals
Founded in 2019 by a small group of scholars from the Universities of Bern and Geneva passionate about the field and working on a voluntary basis, Manazir has since grown into a well-established international network connecting scholars and cultural professionals from the MENA region and Europe. The name Manazir—meaning landscape, perspective, or point of view in Arabic, Ottoman Turkish, and Persian—reflects our commitment to embracing multiple viewpoints that reflect the region’s diversity. We aim to deepen global appreciation of MENA’s artistic and architectural histories and futures while supporting those who contribute to their study, promotion, and preservation.
Manazir Team
Prof. Dr. Silvia Naef
Professor Emerita
Arabic Studies Section
University of Geneva
Prof. Dr. Nadia Radwan
Associate Professor
Visual Arts Department
HEAD-Genève, University of Art and Design
Prof. Dr. Laura Hindelang
Assistant professor
Institute of Art History
University of Bern
Dr. Joan Grandjean
Teaching and Research Fellow
Department of Visual Arts
University of Rennes 2
Dr. Johanna Sluiter
Postdoc
Institute of Art history
University of Bern
Dr. Zouina Ait Slimani
Arabic Studies Section
University of Geneva
Dr. Damla
Göre
Independent Researcher
Scientific Committee
- Tom Avermaete / Chair for the History and Theory of Urban Design, gta / ETH Zurich
- Leïla El-Wakil / Art History Unit, University of Geneva
- Francine Giese / Vitrocentre/Vitromusée Romont
- Sandra Gianfreda / Kunsthaus Zürich
- Kornelia Imesch-Oechslin / Art History Section, University of Lausanne
- Béatrice Joyeux-Prunel / Chair of Digital Humanities, University of Geneva
- Bärbel Küster / Institute of Art History, University of Zurich
- Axel Langer / Rietberg Museum, Zurich
- Estelle Sohier / Department of Geography and Environment, University of Geneva
International Advisory Board
- Alain Messaoudi / Department of History, University of Nantes
- Anneka Lenssen / History of Art Department, University of California, Berkeley
- Asseel Al-Ragam / College of Architecture, Kuwait University
- Bahia Shehab / Department of the Arts, The American University in Cairo AUC
- Ceren Özpinar / Art History and Visual Culture, University of Brighton
- Clare Davies / Department of Modern and Contemporary Art, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York
- Hamid Keshmirshekan / Department of History of Art and Archaeology, School of Oriental and African Studies SOAS, University of London
- Ilse Sturkenboom / Institute of Art History, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich LMU
- Kirsten Scheid / Department of Sociology, Anthropology, and Media Studies, American University of Beirut AUB
- Robert Parthesius / Arts and Humanities Division, New York University Abu Dhabi NYUAD
- Salwa Mikdadi / Arts and Humanities Division, New York University Abu Dhabi NYUAD
- Samia Henni / Peter Guo-hua Fu School of Architecture, McGill University, Montreal
- Suheyla Takesh / Barjeel Art Foundation, Sharjah
- Vasif Kortun / Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art, Doha
- Yasser Elsheshtawy / Graduate School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation, Columbia University, New York
Become a member
Joining Manazir connects you to a dynamic network of scholars, curators, educators, and cultural professionals committed to advancing the study and preservation of MENA’s visual arts, architecture, and heritage.
For International Members
Stay connected through our website, social media and by signing up to our newsletter. Get updates on events, publications, exhibitions, and share your own activities to support and expand the field.
For Members Based in Switzerland
If you are affiliated with a a Swiss institution (museum, archive, university, etc.), you can join Manazir through our association with the Swiss Society for the Middle East and Islamic Cultures (SSMEIC). Membership benefits include:
- Dual Membership: A single annual fee provides membership to both Manazir and SSMEIC.
- Professional Visibility: Become part of an expansive network of professionals in the fields of visual arts, architecture, and cultural heritage in Switzerland and beyond.
- Exclusive Opportunities: Receive invitations to annual member meetings, special events, and exclusive visits to cultural institutions and exhibitions.
To apply for institutional membership, complete the SSMEIC application form and mention in the comments section: “I also want to become a member of Manazir.”