LEBANON - Actor and director Kassem Istanbouli, founder of the Lebanese National Theater, announced the opening of theater venues in Tyre and Tripoli to families displaced by the ongoing escalation and security developments across Lebanon.

The initiative aims to provide temporary shelter for households forced to leave their homes due to the war conditions.

Istanbouli said theater administrations have begun preparing the halls and securing necessities to receive families, in cooperation with volunteers from the Tiro Arts Association.

He emphasized that the move responds to urgent humanitarian needs and reflects the role of cultural institutions during crises.

“The theater is a space for people and must serve them in times of war as in peace,” Istanbouli stated. He added that the stage has been transformed from a performance platform into a safe space.

“If the theater is the house of dreams in normal times, today it is a real home for those who have lost theirs. This is our responsibility as a cultural institution before being a symbolic initiative.”

Organizers said teams have made arrangements for temporary accommodation that preserve the dignity and privacy of displaced families while ensuring access to essential services.

They also called on other cultural institutions to adopt similar measures amid the growing displacement wave.

In parallel, the Tiro Arts Association has previously organized training workshops for displaced children and youth during the 2024 war through its mobile “Art and Peace Bus,” reaching communities in affected areas and supporting psychosocial resilience through cultural activities.