About MISMAR Foundation for Arts and Sustainable Development
MISMAR Foundation for Arts and Sustainable Development is a cultural space that reconnects art, heritage, and society. The name “Mismar” comes from the first nail used in restoring a heritage house — a small detail that became a symbol of how one precise act can bring an entire place back to life. MISMAR Foundation believes heritage houses are not simply old walls or abandoned buildings; they are urban memory, family stories, visual identity, and cultural value that can become artistic, touristic, and educational destinations when properly revived.
Our Mission
MISMAR Foundation’s mission is to transform forgotten heritage houses into living spaces for art, culture, and tourism. The foundation works to support restoration and adaptive reuse, turning heritage houses into venues for exhibitions, art workshops, cultural events, and educational programs. These houses should welcome artists, students, visitors, tourists, and younger generations who need to experience their country’s heritage as a living environment, not only as images or historical text.
Our Vision
Mismar aims to become an Iraqi model for connecting heritage with art and sustainable development. Baghdad alone is reported to have more than 2,400 heritage houses, many of which suffer from neglect, weak maintenance, and the absence of proper cultural investment. The issue is not only the house itself; the alleys, access routes, façades, and surrounding services are often neglected as well. Mismar believes heritage revival must include the building and its surroundings so the visitor experience becomes complete and capable of attracting cultural tourism.
Our Goals
Revive heritage houses and transform them into cultural, artistic, and touristic destinations.
Restore heritage houses in a way that preserves their original architectural spirit and memory.
Host exhibitions and art workshops inside heritage houses, making heritage a platform for contemporary creativity.
Educate younger generations about Baghdad and Iraq’s heritage through programs, guided visits, workshops, and accessible cultural content.
Reactivate the areas surrounding heritage houses, because the route to the place is part of the visitor experience.
Support artists, craftspeople, and cultural initiatives by providing real spaces for display, training, and public engagement.
Produce visual and documentary content that preserves the memory of heritage houses before they disappear.
Build a cultural tourism model that benefits the city through guides, artists, craftspeople, cultural cafés, and nearby local businesses.