May Arida

Previous Professions

  • President, 1973 - present, Baalbeck International Festival.
  • Vice President, 1969 - 1973, Baalbeck International Festival.
  • President, 1953 - 1961, Lebanese Water Skiing Federation.

Honorary Office & Memberships

  • Supervising the organization of the Baalbeck International Festival for more than 50 years.
  • Designated among the top 100 European and Arab Women managers by the EPAM Media group, Women Chief ExecutiveOfficers of Belgium, and BE press agency.
  • Winner of Lebanese championship in skiing.
  • Organizing the first world championship of water skiing in Lebanon, in collaboration with the Lebanese Water Skiing Federation Committee.
  • Establishing with members of the Baalbeck Committee the Theater of Baalbeck Festival to give students an opportunity to perform on stage, 1968.
  • Founding the first acting school in Lebanon with Mounir Abou Debs, 1960.

Field(s) of Expertise

  • Organizing International Festivals
  • Philanthropic Initiatives
  • Professional Skiing

Publications

  • Aractingi, P. (Producer).The Baalbeck International Festival 50 years (1956 - 2006)[DVD]. (2006). Beirut: Baalbeck International Festival.
  • Said, K. (1998). Al Haraka Al-massrahiya fi loubnan [The theater movement in Lebanon]. Beirut: Baalbeck International Festival.
  • Baalbeck International Festival. (1994). Baalbeck: Les riches heures du festival[Baalbeck: The rich hours of the festival]. Beirut: Dar An-Nahar.

Education

  • Baccalaureate, Philosophy, Collège Protestant Français, Lebanon.

Exhibitions, Lectures & Performances

  • Supervising the organization of the Baalbeck International Festival for more than 50 years.
  • Designated among the top 100 European and Arab Women managers by the EPAM Media group, Women Chief ExecutiveOfficers of Belgium, and BE press agency.
  • Winner of Lebanese championship in skiing.
  • Organizing the first world championship of water skiing in Lebanon, in collaboration with the Lebanese Water Skiing Federation Committee.
  • Establishing with members of the Baalbeck Committee the Theater of Baalbeck Festival to give students an opportunity to perform on stage, 1968.
  • Founding the first acting school in Lebanon with Mounir Abou Debs, 1960.

Productions & Works

  • President, 1973 - present, Baalbeck International Festival.
  • Vice President, 1969 - 1973, Baalbeck International Festival.
  • President, 1953 - 1961, Lebanese Water Skiing Federation.

 

Distinctions

  • Honorary trophy from the EPAM Media group, Women Chief Executive Officers of Belgium and BE press agency, 2010.
  • Shield of Appreciation from the Arab Administrative Association on the occasion of the 1st Forum on Festivals in the Arab Countries, 2009.
  • Commander of the Isabelle la Catholique Order from the King of Spain, 2009.
  • Commander of National Order of Cedars from President Emile Lahoud, 2000.
  • Chevalier de la Legion d'Honneur from President Valéry Giscard d'Estaing, 1978.
  • Gold Medal of Lebanese Merit from President Suleiman Franjié, 1976.