OUR STORY
LumaTerra is a consulting firm dedicated to transforming knowledge spaces such as museums, science centers, art galleries, cultural and community hubs into vibrant platforms for connection and discovery. We bring together strategy, creativity, expertise and purpose to design experiences that empower and inspire communities.
Knowledge centers are more than places of learning; they are spaces where information is transformed into insight and collective stories become cultural legacies. Through exhibitions, programs, performances and engaging experiences, they spark curiosity, enable learning, nurture empathy, drive innovation and strengthen the bonds that connect communities. At LumaTerra, we believe knowledge has the power to illuminate lives and transform societies for the better. Our name reflects this vision: “Luma” for light and inspiration, “Terra” for the Earth we all share.
Grounded in Arab identity, LumaTerra draws on the enduring significance of the Middle East and North Africa region as a geographic and cultural nexus. From the first human settlements to the rise of great civilizations, this region has given birth to some of the most diverse cultures in the world, made richer by a living exchange of ideas and innovations among peoples and places. We see it as our responsibility to carry this legacy forward by helping our institutions preserve their past, celebrate their present and imagine their future.
Our role is to work with knowledge spaces so they can tell their own stories with authenticity and vision. By blending global best practices with the rich narratives of our region, we create experiences that celebrate heritage while engaging with global conversations in science, culture, art and technology. Our purpose is to empower these spaces to become platforms of innovation and dialogue. Places where communities recognize themselves in the global story and where cultures meet to shape a resilient, more connected future.
OUR STRATEGY
Vision
To empower knowledge spaces to become platforms where science, culture and innovation shape resilient and connected communities.
Our Values
Respect
What it means: Honouring all cultures and shared humanity.
How we practice it: We embed cultural stewardship and empathy into every project, ensuring voices are represented authentically.
Inclusivity
What it means: Celebrating diversity and accessibility.
How we practice it: We create welcoming spaces and programs where every community feels seen, heard and included.
Mission
We partner with knowledge spaces to create strategies and experiences in science, culture, art and technology while honouring local narratives and redefining global benchmarks.
Innovation
What it means: Creative solutions that push boundaries.
How we practice it: We design bold strategies and experiences that spark curiosity, inspire audiences and open new possibilities for the sector.
Impact
What it means: Serving both people and planet.
How we practice it: We measure success by outcomes that strengthen communities, foster sustainability and enable knowledge creation.
OUR PEOPLE
Mijbel Saad Al-Faraj
GENERAL MANAGER
Mijbel Al-Faraj is a Kuwaiti filmmaker, arts executive, and cultural strategist, with more than two decades of experience in media, corporate strategy and the performing arts. He currently serves as Chief Executive Officer of the Kuwait National Theatre Company, where he has expanded the company’s portfolio of production services and directed a range of creative projects.
He is particularly recognized for his work as a documentary filmmaker, producing films that preserve Kuwait’s fading oral histories. His projects capture the voices, traditions, and cultural memory of communities and socio-political events at risk of being forgotten, safeguarding intangible heritage through cinema and making it accessible to future generations.
Alongside his film work, Mijbel has built extensive expertise in developing operations and programming for performing arts centers, with a special focus on community and national theaters. His leadership has guided program design, public engagement and marketing to ensure theaters remain inclusive spaces for cultural dialogue. Earlier in his career, he held senior roles in marketing and communications across the financial and corporate sectors, developing strategies and branding initiatives. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Advertising, with a minor in Business Administration, from California State University, Fresno.
Sarah Al-Karmi
PRINCIPAL CONSULTANT
Sarah Al-Karmi is a consultant with over 20 years of experience leading knowledge center operations, educational programming, visitor engagement and exhibition development across museums, science centers and cultural institutions. She is the Co-Founder and Principal Consultant of LumaTerra, an advisory dedicated to strengthening the impact of knowledge institutions in the Middle East, North Africa and beyond.
Sarah has led organizational transformation initiatives, designing strategies, governance frameworks and capacity-building programs that position institutions for long-term sustainability and relevance. Her career includes senior leadership at The Scientific Center of Kuwait, where she led strategic planning, exhibition development, and visitor engagement systems, and at the Kuwait National Cultural District, where she helped plan and launch one of the world’s largest cultural complexes.
An advocate for community-driven approaches in the Global South, Sarah’s work blends inclusive design, co-authorship, responsive planning, systems thinking and sustainable cultural strategies that honor local narratives. Her portfolio spans governance design for regional networks, benchmarking and policy research and large-scale public engagement projects.
Fluent in English and Arabic, Sarah holds degrees in Anthropology from the University of Toronto and Bournemouth University and is a Certified Human Resources Manager. A dual Canadian–American citizen of Palestinian heritage, she is dedicated to advancing knowledge centers as platforms of innovation, dialogue and cultural connection.
PARTNERSHIPS
Partnerships are central to our identity. We believe knowledge institutions thrive when connected to regional and global networks. By aligning with leading cultural organizations, professional associations and knowledge communities, we amplify impact and ensure our work is responsive and informed.
Our Affiliations:
ICOM (International Council of Museums)
ASPAC (Asia Pacific Network of Science & Technology Centres)
AMAC (Arab Museums Association)
ICEE (ICOM Committee for Exhibition Exchange)
Smithsonian Affiliations Program
Arab Theatre Institute
UNESCO Creative Cities
National Council for Culture, Arts and Letters (Kuwait)
OUR APPROACH
At LumaTerra, we believe knowledge spaces thrive when strategy, operational proficiency and community intersect. Our methodology blends global best practices with local narratives, ensuring every project is both globally relevant and deeply rooted in place.
We approach each engagement through four guiding principles:
Co-creation. We work alongside institutions and communities, ensuring their voices shape the outcome.
Contextualization. We honor heritage, culture and identity while integrating science, art and technology.
Sustainability. We design solutions that are not only impactful but adaptable and sustainable.
Synthesis. We connect insights holistically, from multiple disciplines, weaving stories and knowledge into experiences that inspire and empower.
Our process moves from listening and research to strategic design, collaborative development and guided implementation. Whether developing a masterplan, an exhibition or a training framework, we see each project as an opportunity to empower institutions to tell their own stories, strengthen their operations and redefine global best practices from a MENA perspective.
LOOKING AHEAD
LumaTerra was founded on the belief that knowledge institutions in the MENA region have extraordinary potential to shape resilient and connected societies. As we look to the future, our focus is on growing as a trusted partner for cultural and educational organizations that honour local narratives while engaging with global best practices.
Our vision for growth is anchored in three priorities:
Expanding Regional Impact
Supporting emerging museums, science centers and cultural hubs across the Arab world with strategies and experiences that strengthen communities.
Deepening Global Partnerships
Building new collaborations with international institutions and networks that bring innovation and expertise to the region.
Innovating Through Practice
Designing new frameworks for multi-lingual learning, visitor engagement and exhibition development that combine cultural authenticity with resilient approaches.
Upcoming projects include the development of Kuwait’s first Children’s Museum, advisory on multidisciplinary exhibitions and capacity-building programs that strengthen institutional resilience across the MENA Region. Beyond Kuwait, we are exploring opportunities to support cultural initiatives throughout the MENA region, positioning LumaTerra as both a regional leader and a global contributor. Above all, we aspire to meaningfully contribute to global knowledge ecosystems, ensuring the stories and innovations of our region help shape a more connected and inspired world.