The Open Crate is a digital art platform launched by Amina Debbiche, a Tunisian art specialist and Nora Mansour, originally from Lebanon who previously worked with leading art and design entities like Art Basel and Carpenter’s Workshop Gallery.

In this episode the two co-founders share how The Open Crate grew from a printed catalog into a private, global platform that secures provenance, organizes collections, and opens access to context, education and insight on the art market in the MENASA region without compromising privacy. We explore themes of trust and resistance, the importance of heritage preservation through documentation, motherhood and entrepreneurship, fashion’s overlap with art, and The Open Crate's roadmap to future-proof archives.

A few topics covered in this episode are:

• Founder backgrounds from finance to cataloging
• Why Dubai and the region needed digital structure
• Turning point with a major Iranian collector Mohamed Afkhami
• Privacy, trust, and resistance to online archives
• Traits that win clients and sustain growth
• Complementary roles and building while parenting
• Art, fashion, design, and lifestyle as one ecosystem
• Vision for Open Crate Lab and AI provenance
• Training the next generation of art specialists
• Routines that protect focus, energy, and creativity

If you'd like to learn more follow The Open Crate on Instagram and as always, if you enjoyed this conversation, please share it, leave a review, and stay tuned for more curated voices from across art, fashion, and culture on The Curation Podcast hosted by Nour Hassan.

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In this episode Nour takes you behind the veil of the glamorous life of a content creator, from weekly invites to VIP events, to opportunities that are diverse and varied, so does one choose what to show up for? Nour dives deep into the art of saying "no" as a strategy for alignment, credibility, and brand longevity. We share why selective choices build trust, how to decline without guilt, and a real example of Nour walking away from a nostalgic invite to protect the vision.

• saying no to create space for aligned work
• how declines shape brand edges and perception
• audience trust versus short-term cash and clout
• simple scripts to say no without burning bridges
• self-trust and the power of selective presence
• a personal example of turning down a past partner
• scarcity, credibility, and showing up with meaning

Make sure to follow @TheCurationPodcast on Instagram, @NourHassan, and @PilatesbyNour to stay tuned on all of the content that is available, as well as The Curation Podcast on all podcasting platforms and @the.curation on TikTok.

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Nour Hassan shares her journey from growing up in Saudi Arabia to building The Curation, a platform celebrating art, fashion, design, and culture across the Middle East and beyond.

• Born in Jeddah to an Egyptian family with Saudi roots, attending the British International School that shaped her worldview
• Credits her international school experience for teaching critical thinking and instilling values of unity, diversity, and acceptance
• Early creative passions included art, magazines, and creating collages that foreshadowed her future career
• Chose to attend university in Egypt rather than London to reconnect with her Egyptian heritage
• Studied architecture before switching to mass communication, with additional education at UCLA
• Founded "Radical Contemporary" in 2018 to highlight young regional creatives, later rebranding to "The Curation"
• Built a career as a stylist, creative director, producer, and writer featured in Harper's Bazaar, Elle, Vogue, and Forbes
• Values being niche rather than mass market: "I am for those who get it, for the intellectuals and the girls who want to be smart"
• Believes we're in "the era of curation" where personally selecting what defines you is essential
• Morning wellness habits include waking up early once weekly and delaying coffee intake
• Despite her social professional persona, values alone time for reading, thinking, and strategizing

Make sure to follow @theCurationPodcast on Instagram, @NourHassan and @PilatesbyNour to stay updated on all available content, as well as The Curation podcast on all podcasting platforms and @The.Curation on TikTok.

Support the show