Sprawling across 25 acres in the heart of Sulaymaniyah, the cultural capital of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, the Sulaymaniyah Cigarette Factory has been transformed into a creative space for artists and emerging talents who dream of a brighter future for arts and culture in Kurdistan.

Established in 1956, the Sulaymaniyah Cigarette Factory, or Tobacco Purifying Factory, became fully operational in 1961, providing jobs for nearly 2,500 families. After producing cigarettes and purified tobacco for over 40 years and having a significant economic impact on the city, it was closed in 2003 due to an increase in foreign products entering the market.

Since closing, the factory’s buildings were under threat of being acquired by private commercial interests, until artists and intellectuals in Sulaymaniyah united to preserve this historic site in 2019. Thanks to their efforts, the factory was officially transferred from the KRG’s Ministry of Industry to the Ministry of Culture (Roshnbiri) that year and has since been operated as a nonprofit under the name Sulaymaniyah Culture Factory.

Today, the Culture Factory stands as a foundation for arts and culture in the city.

Collaboration across the arts

Stepping into this historic space, visitors are greeted by a relaxing atmosphere, distinct from the city’s daily hustle. The beauty of its buildings, the wide alleys that make it perfect for strolling, small art studios to explore, and a cozy café for a cup of coffee or tea all create a welcoming and inspiring space for creativity and ideas.

Chenar Nzar, an artist and head of administration at the Culture Factory, shares how he helped develop the factory’s artistic alleys and create a peaceful space for young artists to establish their studios.

“When I first came to the factory, I was given a space to work on my artistic projects,” Nzar said. “I personally funded the renovation of three art studios. Later, I was invited to join the board of management. Since then, we have been working collectively to advance this cultural project. Our fight was to turn this place into a reality. Now that it is, it needs continuity.”

The Cultural Factory aims to transform this Sulaymaniyah landmark into an economically viable center for culture and creativity, bringing together the city’s artistic and cultural communities under one roof.

International artists and organizations have collaborated with the factory on various occasions. Currently, the factory hosts exhibitions, a filmmaking space, an indoor rock-climbing facility, climate change initiatives, innovation hubs, seminar halls, handicraft workshops, photography studios, and heritage centers. Additionally, the public can use the space for theater performances, festivals, concerts, film productions, and more.

“Aside from the ongoing projects, there are 47 artistic proposals that are waiting for space,” Nzar remarked.

Connecting Sulaymaniyah to the world

Despite political upheavals and the displacement of communities due to decades of dictatorship, war, and conflict, Sulaymaniyah has proven resilient. The city has successfully maintained its diversity and championed peaceful coexistence, as it is home to various religious, ethnic, and migrant communities. The Culture Factory aims to reflect and elevate cultural productions that represent this mosaic of Kurdish society.

Artists are at the heart of the factory. The process of joining the community is smooth, supported by an administrative board dedicated to helping artists stand on their own two feet. As Khabat Marif, the general manager of the factory, often says, “own an artistic project, and we’ve got your back.”

“This space must be actively used by artists and creatives,” Nzar said. “If not, in the future, the project could be auctioned off for residential development. However, as long as artistic activities continue here, no one can take it away.”

At the beginning of 2019, a collaborative effort among Sulaymaniyah’s artists led to the creation of a master plan for the future of this historic site. The plan carefully outlined potential developments, including an information center, a library, multiple exhibition halls, a cinema, artist residencies, music and festival venues, central parks, and a museum.

“If this master plan is realized, the factory will become one of the most unique cultural projects of all time,” Nzar added.

The Sulaymaniyah Culture Factory envisions itself as a revolutionary cultural alternative. “Ultimately, our goal is to transform the Culture Factory into a space that inspires both established and emerging artists, creatives, and innovators to produce high-caliber work,” Nzar said. “This can be achieved by networking regionally and internationally, connecting Sulaymaniyah with the rest of the world.”

Every creative and tourist is welcome to visit the factory and immerse themselves in its artistic atmosphere. Together, the people of Sulaymaniyah are working to build an artistic community in what was once an abandoned tobacco factory and announce the future of culture rising from the ashes.

Savan Abdulrahman is the editor-in-chief at DidiMn, a Kurdish cultural website. Concurrently, she is engaged in a research project on the origins of masculinity in her role as a research assistant at the American University in Iraq, Sulaymaniyah, and also collaborating on this project with the London School of Economics (LSE).