Keeping a Tehran Art Institution Alive During Wartime
- That morning, what was heavier than the explosion itself was not knowing.
The Pejman Foundation has temporarily closed its main contemporary art venue, the Argo Factory, in Tehran amid ongoing military conflict and economic pressures, according to an interview published by the Middle East Research and Information Project.
Founded in 2015, the non-profit contemporary art institution halted public programming at the Argo Factory after a sequence of wartime disruptions, regime regulations, and financial constraints severely restricted operations. Pejman Foundation director Hamidreza Pejman stated in the interview that public access was suspended following a fighter jet flying directly overhead, followed immediately by an explosion, in Tehran on February 28, 2026.
Wartime Disruptions and the Decision to Close
Pejman recounted that the gallery’s final normal public day preceded the formal closure by months, with mass protests occurring in December 2025 acting as an early indicator of deep societal instability. The situation shifted definitively on the morning of February 28, 2026, when a fighter jet flew directly overhead, followed immediately by an explosion.
That morning, what was heavier than the explosion itself was not knowing. One week? One year? In the end it lasted 40 days, but on that first day it could have been infinite.
Hamidreza Pejman
According to Pejman, the operational team experienced no internal disagreement regarding the decision to shut down public entry. He noted that while routine staff disputes over budgets, scheduling, and curation typically signal institutional health, the immediate threat to human life rendered such discussions obsolete.
Regulatory Pressures and Institutional Press Points
The closure of the Argo Factory stems from a confluence of systemic pressures rather than a single event. In April 2026, during a temporary ceasefire, an unknown institution abruptly forced the closure of the foundation’s in-house film-screening initiative, the Cinematheque, under the pretext of permit requirements.
External political tensions further complicate operations. Pejman noted that the diaspora and political opposition frequently criticize the foundation for maintaining cultural operations under government oversight, while other factions push for total institutional destruction. Simultaneously, economic realities, including depleted marketing budgets, departed sponsors, and rising salary demands, have severely restricted curatorial programs.
Operational Shifts at Argo Factory
Despite suspending physical exhibitions and public visitor access, the Argo Factory remains active behind closed doors. Pejman clarified that the closure represents an administrative and practical shift in form rather than a complete cessation of work, allowing the foundation to monitor conditions, protect staff, and maintain vital connections within the arts community.