Updated November 2026 We have corrected the forum’s history, refreshed visiting hours and updated the list of halls and galleries.
The Iranian Artists Forum, known locally as Khaneh-ye Honarmandan, is the beating heart of Tehran’s art scene: a restored Pahlavi-era building on the edge of Artists Park where you can wander through half a dozen gallery shows, catch a play or a film screening and finish with a meal in its vegetarian restaurant. It sits on Iranshahr Street in central Tehran, a few minutes’ walk from Taleghani metro, and makes an easy, inexpensive afternoon out for residents and visitors alike.
From army barracks to arts centre
The site began life as a military barracks under Reza Shah and stayed in army hands for decades. In the late 1990s it was handed over for cultural use, and the building was restored and reopened as the Artists Forum around 1999 under the direction of the theatre maker Behrouz Gharibpour, with backing from Tehran Municipality, the Ministry of Culture and the government of President Mohammad Khatami. The park around it was landscaped at the same time and is dotted with sculptures.
Today the forum is home to many of Iran’s professional arts bodies, including associations for painters, sculptors, graphic designers, calligraphers, photographers, architects and poets, as well as guilds representing cinema, music and theatre. That mix means there is almost always something going on, from exhibition openings to talks and workshops.
Galleries
The galleries are the main draw. Spread over two floors, they include spaces named after the graphic designer Morteza Momayez, the painter Gholamhossein Nami and the architect Hadi Mirmiran, plus four galleries named after the seasons. Shows change roughly every week or two and cover painting, photography, illustration, sculpture, calligraphy and installation, from student work to established names. New exhibitions usually open on Friday afternoons, which is the liveliest time to drop in.
Halls, theatre and cinema
Alongside the galleries, the forum runs several performance and event spaces:
- Jalil Shahnaz Hall (about 150 seats), used for conferences, book launches and unveilings.
- Fereydoun Naseri Hall, which hosts film screenings for the forum’s cinematheque as well as exhibitions.
- Ezzatollah Entezami Hall (about 120 seats), a small theatre.
- A smaller workshop hall of around 40 seats for press conferences and classes.
The Iranshahr Theatre next door stages regular productions across its two auditoriums. The cinematheque is popular with film lovers for its screenings of classic Iranian films and recent international releases, often followed by a discussion.
Food, shops and library
The ground-floor vegetarian restaurant and café have been a favourite of Tehran’s arty crowd for years, serving a changing menu of meat-free Iranian and international dishes. It is one of the city’s longest-standing places for vegetarian food in Tehran. There are also small shops selling art books, prints and handicrafts, and a library for members.
Visiting tips
- Hours: galleries generally open from early afternoon into the evening, and are usually closed one day a week (often Saturday). Opening times shift during holidays and Ramadan, so check the forum’s social media before a special trip.
- Cost: the park and most gallery shows are usually free to enter; theatre and cinema tickets are paid and often sell out.
- Time needed: allow one to two hours for the galleries and a walk in the park, longer if you stay to eat.
- Language: labels and event listings are mostly in Persian, so a few words go a long way; try the Persia Learning lessons before you go.
Getting there
- Metro: take Line 1 to Taleghani, then walk about five minutes via Mousavi (Forsat) Street to the south side of Artists Park. Haft-e Tir station, also on Line 1, is around ten minutes’ walk away via Kheradmand Street.
- Car or taxi: approach from Karim Khan Zand Street and turn into Iranshahr Street. Parking is tight, so a ride-hailing app is the easier option.
