Barav Barzani established the Kurdistan Center for Arts and Culture. He is driven by a purpose to empower people and communities through building meaningful infrastructure and capabilities. 

From his upbringing to his studies in International Relations at the University of Edinburgh as well as Public Policy at UCL, his experiences expanded his mission to extend Kurdistan’s cultural heritage globally while building the local infrastructure necessary for this reach. 

The Kurdistan Center for Arts and Culture (KCAC) aims to revolutionize cultural engagement in Kurdistan and shape how its cultural heritage is perceived globally, presenting an authentic and unifying vision of Kurdistan through its vibrant culture and art beyond political divisions.

KCAC strives to make Kurdistan accessible to everyone worldwide through various mediums, including archives, photojournalism, film, and exhibition, forming a community hub to foster understanding and appreciation of Kurdistan’s culture.

This organization belongs to the Kurdistani people, it is our collective property for Kurdistan, by Kurdistan to Kurdistan and the world. It is not only the work of the present, but the legacy of every individual who strived for our people, our land, and its heritage.

Bedran Habeeb serves as the Vice President of KCAC, where he manages communications across stakeholders in the region and mentors the Archive division. He brings decades of experience in cultural and literary leadership to his role, which informs his approach to project oversight and strategic planning.

He is the founder and former director of Aras Publications, Kurdistan’s largest literary publishing house, and the founder of AK News, a multilingual news agency based in Kurdistan. As a former Cultural Advisor to the former Prime Minister of the KRG, he developed programs that supported writers and artists across the region.

Mohammed Fatih serves as the Managing Director at KCAC. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration with a minor in Law from AUIS, where he also represented the university in the Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition in Washington, D.C., after winning national rounds in Iraq.

He previously worked as a researcher and literary translator at Kashkul, contributing to cultural and literary projects. Mohammed also received a Master’s in Applied Islamic Ethics at Hamad Bin Khalifa University in Qatar, furthering his interdisciplinary approach to cultural heritage, ethics, and research.

Spede Mizuri serves as the Director of Public Impact at KCAC – bridging public programming and policy influence. She has a Bachelor’s Degree in International Relations from the American University of Kurdistan and a Master’s Degree in Social and Political Thought from the University of St Andrews. Her research draws largely on the fabric of tribal life in Kurdistan and the development of political thought through poetry. She has previously worked on numerous initiatives on civic engagement across education, health, and culture.

Through thoughtful artistic and cultural programming backed by scholarly research and advocacy, the Department of Public Impact supports and promotes a Kurdish narrative in the development of cultural infrastructure cognisant of the global scene, while connecting KCAC’s broader initiatives with the communities we serve.

Fateh Rebar serves as the Head of Communications and Media at KCAC. He holds a degree in Economics and Finance from the University of Kurdistan Hewlêr (UKH).

Fateh oversees internal and external communications, manages KCAC’s media presence, and leads public relations. He is committed to building strong professional relationships with academic, cultural, and artistic institutions, and actively represents KCAC in events, meetings, and conferences.

Marina Wondrich serves as the Director of Research and Development at KCAC, leading the development of international networks, grants, and collaborative programs in support of the center’s mission. She previously served as Executive Assistant at KCAC, managing daily operations with a focus on communications and project coordination.

She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Archaeology and Classical Languages from Hunter College, New York (2019), and an MPhil in Archaeology from the University of Cambridge, with a specialization in Assyriology. Her archaeological field experience in Italy and Turkey and her work with cultural heritage institutions inform her strategic approach to heritage preservation.

Rekan Omar serves as the Head of Finance at KCAC, where he manages financial planning, budgeting, and reporting with precision and accountability.

He previously worked as Associate Auditor II at Ernst & Young, where he contributed to audit execution and financial integrity. Rekan holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from AUIS and a Certificate in Japanese Language Studies from Keio University in Japan.

Rebeen Hawezy serves as the Digitization Coordinator at KCAC. With a background in Agricultural Engineering and previous experience as a computer technician, he now oversees data entry and the digitization of archival materials, ensuring they are processed and preserved according to international library science standards.

Trained by international experts at KCAC, Rebeen is committed to ensuring the integrity and accessibility of the center’s growing digital archive.

Deellan Khanaka serves as the Director of Publications and Co-Director of Curated By at KCAC. She holds a Master’s degree in Kurdish Studies from the University of Exeter, where she focused on oral history, feminist theory, and memory studies.

Her interests include alternative historiography, remembrance, cultural and collective memory, silence and loss, and women’s narratives. With experience as a translator, editor, and educator in the nonprofit sector, Deellan brings a deep commitment to cultural preservation, folklore, and archival storytelling. 

Hala Salah serves as the Director of Design at KCAC, where she works across departments to embed design as a tool for playful learning and social impact. She previously served as Graphic Designer and shaped the potential of design beyond its immediate function at KCAC.

She is an interdisciplinary creative whose work blends research, strategy, and technology to craft meaningful brands and interactive experiences rooted in identity and culture. Her practice is shaped by a deep commitment to education and community building, informed by experiences such as teaching coding to children, co-founding a UX/UI bootcamp, organizing creative events, and managing a design studio.

Sara Al-Taeshi serves as a coordinator at the Department of Public Impact and as a Research Assistant at KCAC. Her work sits at the intersection of community development and social research.

She has organized high-level dialogues between youth and diplomatic missions in Iraq, contributing to initiatives focused on self-determination, diversity, and collective action. At KCAC, she coordinates logistics for public programming and research that connects Kurdistan’s art and culture to broader issues, extending community engagement, and cultural awareness.

Lazha Taha serves as the Photojournalism Coordinator and Co-Director of Curated By at KCAC. She curates story ideas and contributes to the center’s digital storytelling platform. Throughout her work, capability building remains a core pillar, for both writers and photographers. 

She holds a degree in Society, Communications, and Media from Charles University in Prague. Her expertise and curatorial vision shape KCAC’s efforts to tell Kurdish stories to global audiences through a dynamic visual lens beyond conflict narratives. 

Ayten Kotikyan serves as the Archival Liaison at KCAC, where she plays a key role in fostering institutional memory and cultural continuity. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in International Studies with a minor in Business Management from the American University of Iraq, Sulaimani (AUIS), and is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Political and International Relations at the University of Kurdistan Hewlêr (UKH).

With a focus on cultural studies, academic research, and translation, Ayten deepens KCAC’s engagement with Kurdish heritage. Her responsibilities include managing archival partnerships, coordinating international collaborations with Kurdish institutions, and promoting the use of the Kurmancî dialect within KCAC’s programs and communications.

Ahmed Gerdi serves as the Manuscript Investigator at KCAC. He holds a Bachelor’s degree from Al-Azhar University in Egypt and is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Islamic Studies at Salahaddin University in Erbil.

With over a decade of experience in manuscript research, Ahmed has published four books and continues to investigate and catalog KCAC’s manuscript collections, contributing to the preservation of Kurdish intellectual and cultural heritage.