This publication is the result of a major global research project initiated jointly by The Prince Claus Fund, Hivos, and the European Cultural Foundation (ECF) to investigate the transformative force of art and culture on the lives of people and communities in different countries around the globe.

I was part of a brilliant team of researchers (out of fifteen teams) that spoke with cultural organizations across the Middle East and North Africa to find out how local actors negotiate funding cycles, local constraints, and cultural aspirations in their work. Our collaborators based in Morocco, Palestine, Lebanon, and Turkey generously offered us insights into the challenges and victories that come from working in a field that is often marginalized by state and society alike.