The Beirut Synthesizer Center is a newly-formed, informal co-op for electronic music enthusiasts.

The Center, which opened its doors on June 25th, 2021, was co-founded by artists Bana Haffar, Elyse Tabet, Hany Manja, and Ziad Moukarzel. It was created in the context of ongoing turmoil in Lebanon, which has left a vacuum of support for the arts.

The founders took inspiration from places like The San Fransisco Tape Music Center, the Synth Libraries in Prague and Portland, Signal Culture and Asheville’s Black Mountain College.  The Center’s goals are to provide a physical space for self-directed study, with access to various synthesizers and resources; and to create a base for learning and collaboration.

The Center has initial plans to be open throughout the summer of 2021, featuring open house hours, workshops, artist lectures, discussion nights, movie screenings and a small reference library. Future plans are still to be determined.

Upcoming events include a hands-on workshop on the basic electronic components of an oscillator on Wed Jul 28th; Enter the Synth – an introduction to synthesis on Thurs July 29th; and Max/MSP~izza, featuring patch presentations and pizza on Friday, July 30th. See the Center’s Facebook page for more upcoming events.