The Khalid Shoman Foundation

Registered in Amman in 2002, the non- profit Khalid Shoman Foundation has dedicated its efforts to promoting the arts and supporting institutions in the fields of education and health by granting scholarships and donations. Darat al Funun, the cultural division of the Foundation, opened in 1993 and was conceived to provide a platform for visual arts from the Arab world, to foster creativity, critical discourse and to reveal the dynamism of contemporary ideas and art practices. The programming includes realizing innovative exhibitions, as well as organizing artists talk and specialized lectures on art, film screenings, live performances, educational summer workshops, artists' residencies, and monthly cultural and literary meetings. In addition to its publications and sponsoring research on Arab art, the archives and library of books and videos are a valuable tool for study and information. Darat al Funun is housed in four historical buildings alongside the remains of an archaeological site. By restoring them for reuse, the foundation has contributed to preserving Jordan's cultural heritage.In 2002, Darat al Funun came under the umbrella of the Khalid Shoman Foundation dedicated to the memory of its patron.