Balay Archives is built upon the photographic legacy of Studio Balay, a family-run photography studio active throughout the late 1980s and early 1990s. During this period, the studio produced a wide body of work documenting both family and community life, capturing cultural practices, celebrations, and everyday moments, as well as significant historical and political events shaping Kurdish life.

These photographs were created as part of both professional studio work and personal family documentation, forming a visual record that reflects the lived experiences of a particular time and place. Yet, like many Kurdish families, the Balay family’s story was marked by displacement and upheaval, and much of the original Studio Balay archive was lost. A significant portion of the photographs were burned, stolen, or destroyed in the course of war and forced displacement.

In order to preserve and protect what remains of this body of work, full copyright ownership of these materials has been formally and permanently transferred to Hujé Balay, a member of the Balay family and the founder of Balay Archives.

This transfer establishes Balay Archives as the central custodian of the collection and ensures its long-term care, responsible stewardship, and public presentation.

As steward of the archive, Hujé Balay oversees the digitization, preservation, and curation of these materials, as well as their dissemination across multiple formats, including digital platforms, exhibitions, and print publications.

All materials are handled with a commitment to accuracy and integrity. Photographs are credited to Balay Archives, or otherwise indicated, and are presented with careful attention to their historical context.

This stewardship ensures that the legacy of Balay Studio is not only preserved but made accessible as part of a broader cultural and historical record.