Dar Al-Anda
Since its foundation in 1998, Dar al Anda has been known to the
world as a gallery of fine arts. In reality, it was not exactly that; it
was rather a project that meant to bring together visual and auditory
arts, and thus counted as one of the centers of culture and the arts.
Dar al Anda’s contribution to both arts appeared in the form of musical
concerts, informative literary and cultural activities that took place
in tandem with the many exhibitions of fine art. Dar al Anda turned its
set goals into reality. It presented a great variety of works to its
public, works that were subjected to scrutiny and fine selection. The
administrators of Dar al-Anda have by now achieved a judicious sense of
experience that enables them to move on and further their possibilities,
relentlessly exhibiting a will to cooperate with willing parties.
The Aims of Dar al-Anda:
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To turn the venue into a
cultural centre for the arts working within established regulations.
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To develop an aesthetic
sense and performance skills in those participating in sculpture,
painting, pottery and music workshops.
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To encourage all ages to
participate in this cultural creativity.
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To create an adequate
atmosphere for these creative activities.
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To make contact with
Arab and International art and culture groups.
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To contribute in
marketing Jordanian art in and out of Jordan
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To protect the creative
rights of the artist
And in all this, our
special aim is to serve our country, Jordan
The Name: Dar Al-Anda
One might ask why this gallery was named ‘Dar al Anda’ (The Home of al-Anda)
rather than ‘Gallery’ al-Anda? The answer lies in its accomplished goals
as a ‘Dar’ that soars in boundless cultural perspectives and alights in
a renewed body into a venue that boasts history and beauty. The new Dar
al-Anda sits today in a home whose spaces were created to achieve
greater goals. Antique architectural spaces are transformed in such a
way as to keep the luxury of a past culture and to marry its
architecture with modern Jordanian and Arab culture. Accordingly, Dar
al-Anda has come to be a ‘home’ and a haven for artists, art lovers,
collectors and those who seek a cultural experience.
The Place
Jebel Luwaibdeh, a grandiose scene of old Amman. It is all at once one
of the most abstract and most realistic scenes that can be seen in a
city. Vast spaces stand upright, oblique, sloping and intertwining.
Incredible conceptual patterns made up of arched vacuities, cubes,
squares, rectangles, lines lea ding the eye, others dispersing it,
create a feast for the eye. Three hills embrace one another, losing
themselves in the depth of their valleys, while up above they beguile
the gentle skies of Amman.
That is the scenario one experiences from
the terraces of Dar al-Anda.
The Venue
The transition
from one venue to another is no more than a return to the grassroots of
our culture, a rediscovery of the past that still lives within each one
of us. The new venue is one of those beguiling old houses in which we
could have resided once and would have left it for some reason. The new
Dar al-Anda is one such house, concealing within its spaces memories;
the treasures of a rich past. According to the register of the
municipality of Greater Amman, this house was built in 1939. It has been
subject to a number of maintenance and restoration attempts, the latest
under the guidance of the House of Architectural Studies represented by
the architect Bassem ash-Shehabi who used up the old spaces and
developed others to fit new functions. Dar al_Anda ended up with a
number of surfaces that are adequate for the various cultural activities
to be held there.; among others, a children’s library, studio, a store
for art works and art materials, guest quarters for resident artists.
And to all this a new life was given.
The People Behind Dar
Al-Anda
The idea started
as my dream. I was greatly supported by my husband and my biggest fan,
Saleh Al Ghoul and my kids Abdulla, Zeina, Ghalia and Lolwa. Other
supporters of the project were my dearest friends Lisa Kelly, Hind Zahr,
Mina Tarabi, Khalid Wahal, Samar Dudien, Nelly Lama, and Ali
Zayni. Thank you all for believing in me. Also, of course, the
architects and artists who were very enthusiastic about the project.
Eng. Basim Al-Shahabi of Omrania.
"Rihabimid"
Dar Al-Anda Magazine
Majdoline Al
Ghezawi Al Ghoul
Amman Oct 2002
