Mission & Vision

Anti-Discrimination and Diversity Commitment

The Markaz Review’s board members, editors and contributors are all equally and passionately committed to fight racism and discrimination of any kind, whether on the basis of race, color, religion, ethnicity, national origin, ancestry, disability, gender identity or any other status protected under law. We remain committed to diversity in all its forms.

Mission.

The Markaz Review supports a deeper understanding of the Arab/Muslim world, in the Middle East, Africa and our diasporas in Europe and the Americas, with its publishing activities and public programs. In a world fragmented by racism, gender discrimination, settler-colonialism, class and caste systems, xenophobia and orientalism, our mission is to highlight the arts and human rights, for without freedom of expression the arts cannot thrive.

Taking the Mashriq and the Maghreb* and our diasporas as a departure point, TMR is an international platform for positive inquiry, criticism, performance and dialogue that explores the arts, humanities and current affairs. 

* from Afghanistan in the east to Morocco in the west, including the Arab/Muslim world and Africa

Vision.

The Markaz Review produces, cosponsors or supports artistic programs that encourage cross-cultural and multidisciplinary collaborations, and that give voice to issues and experiences of underrepresented Middle Eastern communities in order to bring informative and alternative information on these communities to the public and media.

We partner with community groups and artists that engage in cross-cultural initiatives or the education of a broader public with cultural/social relevance. We strive to work collaboratively with multigenerational, multiethnic, multidisciplinary and/or broad geographic communities in response to cultural/social issues articulated by those communities.

Primary Focus.

We support historically underrepresented groups of poets, writers and artists of Arab/Muslim heritage by publishing their work and presenting them in public programs.

History.

Long before 9/11, many of us were already working to build bridges. The Markaz Review, founded on June 1, 2020, is the descendant of The Markaz, Arts Center for the Greater Middle East, itself launched on July 1st, 2015 as the direct descendant of the Levantine Cultural Center, founded during the summer of 2001.

The Levantine Cultural Center grew out of an earlier project—Open Tent Middle East Coalition, a group of like-minded individuals and nonprofit arts, educational and peace groups working together in Southern California. Over the years, Levantine Cultural Center/Markaz flagship programs have engaged communities to overcome animosity and racism to learn about one another and find common ground.