Kamel Lazaar Foundation to establish cultural landmark at 93 Mortimer Street
The Langham Estate is pleased to announce the Kamel Lazaar Foundation for Art and Culture will occupy the recently restored 93 Mortimer Street. The foundation will occupy the entire 10,000 sq ft Grade II-listed 18th-century commercial building, transforming it into a cultural landmark in the heart of London’s Fitzrovia Quarter. The restoration is part of The Langham Estate’s continued investment programme, which aims to enhance and improve its portfolio, with many projects expected to complete this year.
Headquartered in Geneva, with offices in Tunis, Paris, and now London, the Kamel Lazaar Foundation focuses on supporting contemporary art and culture in the Arab world and beyond.
The foundation’s initiatives include funding and commissioning art projects, preserving and documenting cultural heritage, and collaborating with museums, universities, and cultural institutions. For 20 years, the foundation has supported both emerging and established Middle Eastern and North African artists, promoting art through events, workshops, global cultural partnerships, and increased accessibility to the arts.
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For 20 years, the foundation has supported both emerging and established Middle Eastern and North African artists, promoting art through events, workshops, global cultural partnerships, and increased accessibility to the arts.
Open to the public, the Kamel Lazaar Foundation’s headquarters at 93 Mortimer Street will include a library, screening room, spiritual space, and events space. This will host roundtables, movements, talks, and artist residencies, all aligned with the foundation’s mission to highlight the artistic richness of the Middle East and North Africa and foster cultural exchange beyond borders.
The foundation will become part of the vibrant community of art galleries and creative industries already established in the Fitzrovia Quarter.
“With neighbours like Tank Magazine and Ab-Anbar, the area’s unique creative atmosphere is suited for our inaugural UK presence. We envision this space as a catalyst for meaningful conversations and collaborations within London’s vibrant art scene.”
Malcolm Cohen, Leasing and Marketing Director at The Langham Estate, said, “Since completing the restoration, we envisioned welcoming creative sector businesses that value the history and heritage of the building while contributing to Fitzrovia’s artistic community. The Kamel Lazaar Foundation embodies this vision perfectly, with heritage, art, education and collaboration at the heart of its mission for over two decades. The foundation’s arrival further reinforces Fitzrovia’s status as a cultural hub, home to a thriving mix of creative industries, arts organizations, and cultural institutions. I am delighted that this letting to the Kamel Lazaar Foundation completes the property’s journey, coming full circle and once again embracing its cultural and artistic heritage.”
History of 93 Mortimer Street, Fitzrovia
93 Mortimer Street was originally home to the German Athenaeum (Deutscher Verein für Kunst und Wissenschaft)—a club once described as a “sublime public house” for German artists, musicians, and businessmen.
From 1875, the Athenaeum hosted painting and sculpture exhibitions, along with musical performances, some of which took place at St George’s Hall. Its success led to the acquisition of 43 Great Portland Street, which became a well-known public lecture hall.
The venue took on a progressive character in July 1913, when it was rebranded as the Arts Centre and quickly became a vibrant space for plays, concerts, lectures, and conferences, often with a left-wing, suffragist, or experimental focus. Dramatic performances included a new children’s repertory company staging A Midsummer Night’s Dream, alongside an evening of Shaw and Yeats organized by the Irish Literary Society and Gaelic League of London.
In music, the venue hosted a concert series by composer Josef Holbrooke. It also became the home of the Institute of String Players, offering tuition in stringed instruments, harmony, and accompaniment.
For more information about The Langham Estate and its portfolio of properties, please visit available commercial properties. For information on Kamel Lazaar Foundation please visit kamellazaarfoundation.org.