BEIRUT: For decades, the Gulf served as the center of gravity for much of Lebanon’s creative talent, with swaths of designers and marketing executives flocking to its cities to find clients or relying on its foundations and cultural centers for funding.
But with regional economies now under pressure from a nearly six-month-old regional war, Lebanese creatives say financing and work opportunities are drying up.
Uncertainty linked to the conflict has prompted Gulf-based clients to postpone projects, reduce budgets and slow payments, leading to layoffs and income declines, said Lebanese professionals in advertising, branding and communications.
Co-founder and CEO of 'Creative Space Beirut', Sarah Hermez, gestures as she speaks during an interview with Reuters in Beirut, Lebanon, July 28, 2026. (REUTERS)
Fashion school Creative Space Beirut, or CSB, relied on donations and partnerships with individuals and institutions in the Gulf to keep its courses free for underprivileged students.
