Dima Samaha

As an evaluator, I conducted an in-depth reflection on the urgent aid provided by the Prince Claus Fund NGO to the cultural heritage sector in Beirut, devastated by the explosion of its Port on August 4, 2020. To do this, I conducted interviews with representatives of local institutions that benefited from this aid. I was responsible for preparing and writing these interviews in advance, targeting the questions and topics that should be discussed and highlighted, and the best way to conduct these interviews. Following these recorded exchanges, I transcribed our discussions and wrote a detailed evaluation report on the effectiveness of the aid provided, its strengths, its weaknesses, while proposing strategies and improvements for future emergency aid to be provided. I supplemented my report with photos of the different sites, in order to make visible the damage and the repairs that were made.

Co-founder and editorial director of a publishing house specializing in the publication of art books.

Responsible for the editorial strategy, I selected projects, managed editorial follow-up, oversaw the layout, production, press kit compilation, and distribution. Working with a small team, I assisted our authors in all major stages of book creation, from contract signing to publication and sales monitoring.

Manuscript reader for a reading committee, I was responsible for correcting, rewriting, and conceptualizing manuscripts before they became books in the hands of readers.

Responsible for writing the back cover copy and the website content for the publishing house, I contributed to the implementation of a consistent editorial strategy and vision with the publication of works.

As an active freelancer for this small structure, I was involved in building press kits, contacting the media, and preparing book signings.