irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2024
What they reported doing
- #1 primary $68KSOLIDARITY MICROGRANTSBIDOUN ADMINISTERED MICROGRANTS TO ARTISTS, WRITERS, AND CURATORS WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED SERIOUS ECONOMIC HARDSHIP AND PROFESSIONAL CENSORSHIP DUE TO THEIR ANTI-WAR STANCE IN THE CONTEXT OF THE ISRAELI-PALESTINIAN CONFLICT. MICROGRANTS WERE ISSUED TO 12 INDIVIDUALS FROM 3 DIFFERENT COUNTRIES IDENTIFIED FROM OVER 100 UNIQUE GRANT REQUEST SUBMISSIONS.
- #2 $19KNICOLAS MOUFARREGE PUBLICATIONBIDOUN CONDUCTED RESEARCH AND PLANNING FOR A FORTHCOMINGLARGE-SCALE MONOGRAPH ON THE LIFE AND WORK OF ARTIST NICOLASMOUFARREGE. THIS INCLUDED EDITORIAL AND SCHOLARLY RESEARCH, THECOMMISSIONING OF LONG-FORM ESSAYS, EDITORIAL PHOTOGRAPHY ANDDOCUMENTATION OF ARCHIVAL WORKS.
named programs · 5 · from sources
What they call their work
Bidoun Magazine
Publishes an avant-garde magazine that combines elements of an art magazine and literary journal, circulated to 4,500 individuals and institutions with over 23,000 online readers
Curatorial Activities
Organizes exhibitions, film screenings, lectures, and book launches that present new perspectives on Middle Eastern arts and culture
Meriem Benanni Publication
Produces the first monograph on Moroccan artist Meriem Benanni, including commissioning and editing conversations and long-form essays about her work
Nicolas Moufarrege Publication
Researches and produces a large-scale monograph on the life and work of artist Nicolas Moufarrege, including scholarly essays, archival documentation, and planning for international symposia
Solidarity Microgrants
Provides financial support to artists, writers, and curators who have faced economic hardship and professional censorship due to anti-war stances related to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict; issued 12 microgrants in 2024
activities · 7 groups
What they do
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Literary and Cultural Publishing 2 activities
- Producing and publishing a magazine and related publications on Middle Eastern art, culture, and ideasProduces and publishes a magazine and over a dozen additional publications in various formats, featuring short-form content such as interviews, essays, diaries, videos, and event listings, alongside themed issues and literary pieces exploring identity, culture, and artistic practice in the Middle East and its diasporas.
- Translating and publishing firsthand accounts and cultural texts from the Middle EastTranslates and publishes firsthand testimonies, dream journals, and cultural materials from Arabic and Farsi into English, including works by Naguib Mahfouz and real-time documentation from Iran during protest movements, making them accessible to an international audience.
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Artist and Curatorial Publications 1 activity
- Conducting scholarly research and producing artist monographsConducts research and editorial work for major artist monographs, including commissioning long-form essays, scholarly research, and archival documentation, such as for Nicolas Moufarrege and Meriem Benanni.
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Archival Digitization and Preservation 1 activity
- Curating and publishing historical and community-based documentation of Middle Eastern and North African presence in New York CityCurates historical materials such as ship manifests, photographs, and theater programs, and collaborates with community members to identify and contextualize uncaptioned images from Middle Eastern and North African community events in New York.
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Artist Support Grants 1 activity
- Funding artists, writers, and curators facing economic hardship and censorshipAdministers microgrants to artists, writers, and curators from multiple countries who face economic hardship and censorship due to anti-war stances, particularly in the context of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
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Film Festival and Screening Programming 1 activity
- Organizing exhibitions, film screenings, talks, performances, and cultural eventsCurates and presents film programs, including an ongoing series at Anthology Film Archives, and organizes exhibitions, artist commissions, writing workshops, tours, and public talks as part of its cultural programming.
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Historical and Genealogical Research 1 activity
- Recovering and documenting suppressed histories of the Middle EastConducts research and publishing initiatives focused on recovering overlooked, suppressed, and forgotten histories from the long twentieth century of the Middle East, including political movements, cultural shifts, and personal narratives.
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Uncategorized 1 activity
- Advocating for cultural workers affected by political conflictDocuments and reports on the cancellation of sales, residencies, fees, and jobs for artists, writers, and culture workers expressing solidarity with Palestinian liberation, and publishes roundtable discussions on the exclusion of Arab cultural presence in international contexts.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$991K
Contributions & grants$990K100%
Program service revenue$2000%
Investment income$00%
Other revenue$0
expenses
Total expenses$306K
Program expenses59%
Admin / overhead31%
Fundraising10%
Salaries & benefits$137K
Grants paid out$68K
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$722K
Cash$715K
Investments$0
Liabilities$4K
Net assets$718K
Liquid reserves28.1 mo
4 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue +716.5%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 1
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| NEGAR AZIMI | SECRETARY/SENIOR EDITOR | 20 | $62K |
board members · 10
- AARTHI BELANI — TREASURER
- BURKHARD P VARNHOLT — DIRECTOR
- DANA FAROUKI — DIRECTOR
- GLENN LOWRY — DIRECTOR
- KAMBIZ SHAHBAZI — DIRECTOR
- LISA FARJAM — DIRECTOR/FOUNDING EDITOR
- LUIZA TEXEIRA DE FREITAS — DIRECTOR
- MARIA SUKKAR — DIRECTOR
- PEDRO BARBOSA — DIRECTOR
- SHIRIN NESHAT — DIRECTOR
relationships · 37
Who they work with
- Al Jazeera Partner — Source of news and imagery used to monitor developments in Palestine.
- Anahid Nersessian Partner — Contributing author and interlocutor in multiple critical essays on art and literature.
- Anthology Film Archives Partner — Collaborates on an ongoing series of curated film screenings.
- Bidoun Projects Inc Network — Featured in a published article discussing media coverage of Iran, indicating organizational affiliation or collaborative relationship.
- Bruce Hainley Partner — Contributing author to a published article on Hervé Guibert.
- Christine Pichini Partner — Contributing author to a published article on Hervé Guibert.
- Cindy Sherman Partner — Individual supporter in the Friends of Bidoun community, with access to Bidoun-organized events.
- Diana Matar Partner — Collaborated with photographer Diana Matar on artistic projects centered on Cairo, integrating her visual work with literary content.
- Fatima Al Qadiri Partner — Artist and writer contributing to conversations on music, spirituality, and cultural memory.
- Greene Naftali Partner — Member of Friends of Bidoun, participating in Bidoun-organized events.
- Hedi El Kholti Partner — Contributing author to a published article on Hervé Guibert.
- Iran International Partner — Referenced as a satellite channel through which opposition figures communicated during protests; mentioned in published diary as part of the media landscape used by Iranian activists.
- Janique Vigier Partner — Contributing author to a published article on Hervé Guibert.
- Julie Mehretu Partner — Individual supporter in the Friends of Bidoun community, with access to Bidoun-organized events.
- Jumana Manna Partner — Artist and contributor to a collective discussion on Arab Berlin.
- Lawrence Weiner Partner — Collaborates with artist Lawrence Weiner as a contributor to Bidoun projects.
- Lia Gangitano Partner — Contributing author to a published article on Hervé Guibert.
- MIA Partner — Collaborates with pop star Maya Arulpragasam (MIA) as a contributor to Bidoun projects.
- Marwa Arsanios Partner — Artist and writer participating in a roundtable on Arab cultural life in Berlin.
- Mati Diop Partner — Artist and filmmaker featured in a conversation on spiritual traditions in Senegal.
- Moyra Davey Partner — Contributing author to a published article on Hervé Guibert.
- Naguib Mahfouz Partner — Published and translated writings from the Egyptian novelist Naguib Mahfouz, including his dream journals.
- Negar Azimi Partner — Collaborating writer and editor contributing to multiple published conversations and articles.
- New York Public Library Partner — Co-curates exhibition drawing from NYPL’s archival holdings on Middle Eastern and North African communities in New York City.
- Nicole Eisenman Partner — Individual supporter in the Friends of Bidoun community, with access to Bidoun-organized events.
- Orhan Pamuk Partner — Collaborates with Nobel Prize laureate Orhan Pamuk as a contributor to Bidoun projects.
- Teiger Foundation Government — Provides support to Bidoun through the Coalition of Small Arts New York.
- The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts Funder — Provides financial support to Bidoun.
- The Ford Foundation Funder — Provides financial support to Bidoun.
- The Henry Luce Foundation Government — Provides support to Bidoun through the Coalition of Small Arts New York.
+ 7 more
strategies · 5
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- Amplification of Suppressed Voicesmethodology: amplification-of-suppressed-voicesBy publishing and curating voices from within Iran and other marginalized contexts, we counter cultural erasure because sustained visibility of intellectual and artistic production sustains communities and challenges authoritarian silencing.
- Anti-Canonical and Alternative-Canon Curationmethodology: anti-canonical curationBy curating underappreciated, rare, or unconventional works in publishing and film, we disrupt dominant cultural canons because challenging hierarchies of taste enables broader, more inclusive cultural participation.
- Critical-Cultural Reframingmethodology: critical-cultural reframingBy presenting writing that is both serious and irreverent, questing and discerning, we challenge dominant narratives about the Middle East and its diasporas, producing deeper public understanding because tone and perspective shape cultural reception and resistance.
- Historical Recovery and Continuity Analysismethodology: historical-continuity analysisBy recovering marginalized histories and drawing parallels between past and present state-aligned cultural suppression, we expose systemic patterns of erasure, because historical awareness strengthens resistance to contemporary censorship.
- Interdisciplinary Cultural Practicemethodology: interdisciplinary cultural programmingBy integrating publishing, education, and curatorial work, we foster deeper engagement with Middle Eastern culture because interdisciplinary formats enable multiple entry points and sustained intellectual investment.