Culture is the bridge of communication among peoples' cultures. And over her long history,

Egypt could be a beacon for civilization, arts, and culture where civilizations interacted and merged in a process of wonderful humane system. Thus, the product came to be a pioneer civilization of which chains are linked together, helping Egyptian man interact leaving its prints in his mind and ethos.

 

In 1952, the Revolution government gave special attention to culture and established the National Guidance Ministry, comprising departments concerned with culture. The first Ministry of Culture, also concerned with national guidance was established in 1958. In 1965, it was renamed the Ministry of Culture. In the early 1980s, a draft cultural policy was laid down, and cultural work turned to a culture that put the Egyptian man as a major objective of all the activities. This was with the aim of arming Egypt with a cultural structure that confirms its status in the world.

 

Egyptian Antiquities are a treasure and its transcribed history is a witness on the civilization achieved by the ancients. Egypt includes more than one third of the world's monuments in tens of sites, cities and within show halls and museums. The year 2005/06 witnessed finishing the restoration and maintenance of several Coptic and Islamic monuments of which are:

 

Kom Ombo Museum, the area surrounding Dandarah Temple, Sarabit el-Khadem Temple in Sinai, Hebs  Museum, the archeological area in Saqqarah, es-Serabium Temple, al-Karnak and Luxor Temples area, Kings' Valley area. In addition, the level of subterranean water has been lowered in temples of Esna, Hathur in Aswan, al-Karnak, Luxor in addition to the monuments of ash-Shatby area in Alexandria and Sunasert I Temple in al-Matareyah. The most recent archeological discoveries in 2006 were coffins of labourers and engineers who worked in this area of Torah quarries, thus unraveling a new chain in the Pharaonic history.

 

Historic Cairo Project:

A plan has been set to save Islamic Cairo that acquired an aesthetic aspect, thus beaming with all the good old days it embraces. A number of 57 archeological projects have been established and other 25 projects are underway.

Cairo historic districts have been revived over four phases:

1- Phase I includes 45 monuments in al-Hussein, al-Azhar and al-Darb al-Ahmar.

2- Phase II includes 25 monuments in areas of al-Nahasseen, and Beit al-Qady.

3- Phase III includes 34 monuments in al-Gammaliah and al-Kharanfash.

4- Phase IV includes 28 monuments in Bab Zweilah and Bab al-Wazeer.

Salient major projects underway in historic Cairo include: Prince Taz Palace, Muhammad Ali Palace, Bab el-'Azab, al-Mo'ez Ledin Ellah al-Fatemy street.

 

Among the world, Egypt stands as the greatest in civilization and the richest in monuments that were left over from this civilization. Thus it was necessary to give due attention to the establishment of museums to preserve what may be discovered of this great heritage, thus Egypt became a member of the International Council of Museums (ICOM). Furthermore, the Higher Council for Archeology works on modernizing the system of presentation in a way that copes with the world style, in addition to following a modern method to preserve monuments in museum stores.

 

      Salient Museums:

It is located in Tahrir Square in Cairo. It was opened in 1901 and comprises more than 501,000 archeological pieces that express different phases of ancient Egyptian history. In 2005/06, a new hall was added (the Mummies Hall); it includes a new number of our ancient Egyptian ancestors of which are Kings Ramsis III, and Ramsis IV, and priests of Amun. The hall was designed in the same shape as one of monarchy tombs in the Valley of the Kings in the western bank. Among the mega projects:

It dates back to 1908, and the process of developing and restoring it took two years and included establishing a hall for open presentation and an information center on the archeological pieces in the museum.

 

The museum lies in al-Fustat over an area of 22 feddans at an area for presentation of 21,000 m2 for showing 25,000 pieces from different phases. In addition 25,000 m are allocated for services, and about 60 percent of phase I has been accomplished. 

 

The Grand Egyptian Museum is deemed one of the national mega projects that some day will be a polestar led by lovers of ancient Egyptian history. It is established on an area of 117 feddans nearby the Cairo-Alexandria desert highway. It will comprise 100,000 archeological pieces, representing the Pharaonic eras at a cost of LE 300 million. The architectural design has been chosen in an international competition in which 2227 contestants from over the world have participated. The area surrounding the museum which overlooks the pyramids is being invested in a project that includes all tourist services.

 

In a big celebration, Ramsis II statue was transferred from the square downtown to its new headquarter in the Grand Egyptian Museum. According to Hieroglyphic transcriptions on the body of the statue, Ramsis II is Horus, lover of justice, the king of upper and lower Egypt, and the Pharoah who restored Egypt's glory 3300 years ago. His age is deemed the most flourishing in Egypt's ancient history.

 

Egyptian archeological exhibitions are touring the world to identify Egypt 's civilization and current culture. Each piece bears a message to the other saying that we are a people that loves right, justice and peace. In 2006, Chicago city received the exhibition of Tut Ankh Amun's monuments where the king woke up from his deep sleep to dazzle the world with his life story and resurrection.

 

 In the same year, the exhibition of Treasures of Egyptian Sunken Monuments was inaugurated in Berlin and included 489 pieces that were taken out from the Mediterranean in Alexandria over ten years. The pieces belong to different historic phases since the Pharaonic till the Islamic and passing by the Patolmic, and the Roman. The most distinguishing feature of the exhibition is a significant message on the meeting of different civilizations and cultures before thousands of years.

 

It is one of the significant projects that aim at documenting monuments scientifically so as to make it difficult to trade in them internally or externally. All the tombs and temples in Aswan have been registered and those of al-Minya are being documented.

The Egyptian General Book Organization is deemed a salient publication center in the Arab world, and a salient and the biggest publication house in Egypt. The Organization issues a big number of literary, intellectual, and scientific series. In addition, the organization expanded its basis of publication to present new intellectuals to the cultural arena. Salient achievements of the Organization in 2005/06:

 

- Establishing 19 book fairs all over Egypt, and participating with the latest publications of the Organization in 9 fairs in Arab countries and 12 fairs in European countries in addition to 6 specialize cultural magazines and 12 periodicals and semi-periodicals, and other 9 series as a part of the family library project and the celebration of the world book day on April 23, 2006.

- Issuing Woman Encyclopedia over Ages in ten volumes.

- Establishing an information bank that includes a comprehensive limitation for the writings of Egyptian writers and intellectuals, and for the mechanism of the various activities in the Organization in addition to modernizing and developing printers and training 200 graduates on professions of printing.

- The National Project for Translation which issued book number 1000, and the approval on establishing the National Center for Translation; the third international gathering took place in 2006, under the title "Translation and Information Society".

The activities of tournament no.38 were held by the participation of 26 Arab countries, 16 foreign countries and 623 publishers in 18 halls. For the first time, the fair hosted one country to be the guest of honour; Germany. The fair included cultural activities salient of which was the tent for poetry, artistic and Arab music shows in addition to seminars.

 

Tournament 23 activities were held accompanied by several cultural activities artistic shows and seminars.

 

The Reading for All Festival is deemed the salient and most huge cultural project. The festival began in 1991 with the initiative of Integrated Care Society and its publications spread in all houses, and scientific centers. Writers and intellectuals contributed to the festival as much as the state did, and the festival succeeded to print several series and significant books for cheap prices. The year 2006, witnessed activities of tournament no. 16 of the festival under the motto 'Culture, the language of peace' with the participation of 937 libraries that include 2 million books. The festival helped founding many cultural and intellectual projects salient of which:

This project emerged in the summer of 1994. It offered us the creations of the elite of our big intellectuals, men of letters and poets. Till 2004/05 family library sold about 37 million copies including 3100 titles.

 

Libraries are houses of comprehensive culture facilitating, for their visitors, reading about cultural achievements. The Cultural Development Fund finished establishing 68 libraries in different governorates at a rate of 5-10 libraries annually. In 2005/06 the following libraries were established:

Al-Negeelah Library, New Brimbal Library, Sidy Ghazy Library, Thomas and 'Afya Library, Mubarak Library (Fayyoum), al-Munira al-Gadeedah Library, Abnud Village Library, al-Ashraf Library, Balteem Library, Snourus Library, Draw Library, al-Sabhah Library, Mallawy Library, and Safaga Library.

Other several big libraries were inaugurated of which is Cairo Grand Library in 1994 and Mubarak Public Library in 1995.

 

Egypt has a big asset of various literary works over the various eras. Since the beginning of the 20^th century, there was a development in the literary and artistic creative movement, starting with 'Eissa ben Hisham's Hadith by Al Mowlhi, followed in 1914 by Zeinab by Dr Muhammad Hussein Heikal as a novel. The literature arena in Egypt surges with many men-of-letter and intellectuals such as: Taha Hussein, Al A'kkad, Ihssan Abdel Qoddous, Youssef Edris and Naguib Mahfouz.

 

The year 2006 witnessed the organization of Cairo Third Gathering for creativity under the title 'The Novel and History' with the participation of more than 200 creators from the Arab homeland. The same year also witnessed the activities of the 20^th tournament of Egypt's Men-of-letter Conference in Port Said provinces with the participation of 300 men-of-letter on poetic and novel creations. Moreover, the General Conference for Arab Men-of-letter and Writers Union was held in Cairo, and members, in consensus, approved to transferring the General Union headquarter to Cairo after 30 years of absence.

 

The year 2006 witnessed the passing away of the great writer and 1988 Nobel Laureate, Naguib Mahfouz. He was the first in the Middle East to win this world prize. In November 1988, Mahfouz was awarded the Nile Collar by President Mubarak. Mahfouz is distinguished by his establishment of a creative world parallel to reality. Through his rich creativity, we knew all humane patterns and different social brackets. He delved into the genius of time and place.

 

The modern renaissance of poetry in Egypt began with Ahmad Shawqy then Hafez Ibrahim and the generation of the pioneers that was followed by the generation of the modernists including Amal Donqol, Ahmad 'Abdel Mo'ty Hegazy, Farouq Shousha, Muhammad Ibrahim Abu Senna, Farouq Gwedah and others. In 2006, 'Wassela's House' which was established in 1664 behind al-Azhar Mosque was dedicated to become the house of Arabic poetry. Another precedence, after the One Thousand and One nights, the UNESCO acknowledged as-Serah al-Helaleyah as one of the wonders of human cultural heritage.

 

  Alexandria Library (Bibliotheca Alexandrina)

Bibliotheca Alexandrina is deemed one of the most remarkable cultural edifices. It was inaugurated in 2002 to be Egypt's window to the world and the world's window to Egypt.

- The number of books in the library reached 400,000 in all walks of life. The establishment of the million book project was made by cooperation with more than twenty institutions, universities and establishments for IT in the USA, China, and India for combating electronic illiteracy.

- Issuing and presenting the first complete digital copy of the book The Description of Egypt, and the digital documentation of the group on the heritage of the leader Gamal 'Abdel Nasser.

- The Digital Library Federation's (DLF), which was established in 1995, invitation for the Bibliotheca Alexandrina to be a strategic partner in that group.

- The participation of the Bibliotheca in researches of the Arabic content of the programme for world digital language for multilingual electronic translation sponsored by the UN.

Cooperation with Anna Linda institution for culture dialogue.

The House is deemed Egypt's national archive and works on reissuing the old books. In 2005/06, the building of the House of Books and National Documents was renovated, and a celebration on the passage of 50 years on its establishment, completion of restoration was held.

 

Egypt is distinguished among the states of the regions with the opera house, and with embracing all the opera arts since 1869. The National Cultural Center "The New Opera House" was inaugurated in 1988. The opera house's activity is not confined to presenting and showing just world and Arab arts, rather it represents a center for civilizational interaction and a national center for culture due to its stages, halls, musical libraries, and centers for artistic creativity.

- Within the context of the opera plan to spread sublime arts in new cities, the extension project of the National Cultural Centre (The Culture Oasis) will be completed in the 6^th of October  City.

 

Sayed Darwish Theater of Alexandria has almost become a second opera house that distinguishes Alexandria. It organizes Qait-Bey Citadel festival and various performances.

 

Some of the plastic art pioneers in Egypt had a role that was not less than that of intellectual enlightenment pioneers among which are Mahmoud Said, Mahmoud Mukhtar, Yousef Kamel, Ragheb 'Ayyad, Muhammad Nagui, and others in addition, different plastic art groups in Egypt kept on emerging successively. Plastic art sector works on founding a state of acknowledgement on these arts and helping people get interested in them. Moreover, the sector works on sponsoring plastic artists, establishing national and international plastic art activities, holding artistic museums, and coping with modern technological systems. It aimed at establishing artistic information technology clubs, so as to provide information on the plastic movement and its prominent figures and give those interested access to plastic creative works all over the world via multimedia.

 

2005/06 plan included the project of Hassan Fathy Village in al-Wadi al-Gadeed, and renovating and developing Modern Egyptian Art Museum, al-Jazeerah Museum, Revolution Leadership Museum, and Taha Hussein Museum.

 

- International Aswan Day Symoposium on the Art of Sculpture.

- Alexandria Biennial of the Mediterranean Countries.

- The Egyptian International Graphics Triennial.

- Cairo International Porcelain Biennial.

- Youth Salon.

- National Exhibition for Plastic Arts.

- Port Said Biennial for Plastic Arts.

In 2005/06, 55 special and social artistic exhibitions were held in the sites affiliated to the plastic art sector.

 

The center is a nucleus for setting up an integrated city of traditional arts. It was opened in 2005 comprising handicrafts workshops aiming at reviving traditional handicrafts of dovetailled glass, arabesque, oyster engraved works, tent making, silver and copper engraving in addintion to folkloric costumes and historial works. In 2996, phase V of the centre is being completed including stores, paining rooms, and a cafeteria.

 

Creativity centers provide for the public cultural performances, most prominent of which are:

Suzanne Mubarak's Centre for Islamic Civilization at (Qait Bey Citadel and Sabil), Artistic Creativity Centre at Beit as Sehemi, Artistic Creativity Centre at Khatoom Al Harrawi, Al Sawi Saqiah (waterwheel), Artistic Creativity Centre at the Opera House, and Artistic Creativity Centre in Alexandria.

 

Egypt was introduced to the art of cinema since more than a century The proper start of cinema was in 1927 when the first long Egyptian film, "Layla" was produced where an Egyptian artist shares with acting; 'Aziza Amir. Moreover, the first short Egyptian film, 'Zoos' was showed; it was directed by Muhammad Karim, who was the first Egyptian to study cinema abroad. The same year also witnessed transforming the first literary work into a silent film, namely the novel 'Zeinab' by Muhammad Hussein Heikal; it was showed in 1930 and was produced again in 1952 by the same director.

- Studio Misr was established in 1935 as a new shift in the history of Esgyptian cinema, where big movies were produced. 1957 witnessed the establishment of the first library for cinematic in Egypt and the Arab world.

- In 1960, the first international festival; the Afro-Asian Festival was hosted by Cairo and the first Egyptian film that wins world prizes was  “The Mummy” by the great director Shadi Abdel Salam, that won 12 awards in international festivals. His movie captured the world's admiration.

- Among the figures that left significant prints in the history of cinema is the director Yousef Shahine who was the first director to have a week for his films in a foreign country; Paris, in addition to the artist 'Omar Sherif, the realist director, Salah Abu Seif, and the romantic director, 'Ezz ed-Din Zolfaqqar.

- In the 80s, a new generation of directors appeared. They directed films that formed a new important trend in the Egyptian cinema; such as: Atef el Tayeb, Ra'fat el Mehey, Khayri Beshara and Muhammad Khan.

- The Ministry of Culture subsidizes film-making at an amount of LE 20 million, and embarks upon its development, so as to cope with international spheres, by holding international and national film festivals and participating in some Arab and international festivals.

- Cairo International Film Festival (November 28-December 8), and the 2006 tournament marks the 30^th anniversary.

- Cairo International Child Film Festival- (2-9 March). And the activities of the 16^th round were held in 2006.

- The National Festival for the Egyptian Cinema (9-27 April).

- Ismailia Festival for Documentary, Narrative and Short Films.

 

Egypt was introduced to theatre in an early stage in her modern history. Egyptian theatre witnessed changes compatible with the political and social events of the 20^th century. Later came the current revival of new methods and technologies, thus the theatrical movement has witnessed remarkable development as to the number of new theatres or renovating the existing ones to absorb free theatrical groups that are more than 50 groups sponsored by the Ministry of Culture in addition to the theatrical groups affiliated to it.

In 2005/06 some theatres were renovated, 52 theatrical shows were organized at a number of 1470 nights, at an audience of 96228 individuals.

 

- Hanager Centre for Arts.

- Creativity Centre Theatre.

- Cairo Festival for Experimental Theatre.

- Modern Theatrical Dance Festival.

- World Theatre Fefstival.

- Light Comedy Roving Theatre Festival in al-Hanager Theatre.

- Arab Theatre Festival, and it showed 12 theatrical shows with the participation of the students of the Academy of Arts.

 

Musical theatre emerged in Egypt at the outset of the 20^th century sponsored by Shiekh Salama Hegazy. The advent of Sayed Darwish led to a remarkable development in music, and he was followed by musicians who were distinguished by high talents. Some pioneer examples of singing are Omm Kolthoum and Muhammad 'Abdel Wahab.

 

The Ministry of Culture takes a special interest in music through the Arab Music Festival organized by the Egyptian Opera House, and Cairo International Song Festival in cooperation with the Ministry of Tourism with the participation of 18 countries. New music foundations were established such as the International Center for Music at the Menesterly Palace, Arab Lute House at al Harrawi, focusing on folkloric music and keeping it from being forgotten. In 2006, a celebration was held for the fifth anniversary of the establishment of the International Centre for Music.

 

Culture palaces are the light that extends its light to include the surrounding society. They take upon themselves the mission of societal enlightenment. Within the framework of the Culture Palaces Authority plan to replace and renovate culture palaces and houses and providing them with the state-of-the art  technology, it finished the renovation of the following culture palaces:

Fouh Culture Palace, Bella Culture Palace, Shrouq Culture Palace (al-'Areesh), Child Culture Palace, Kafr Sa'd Culture Palace (Damietta), 'Ein Helwan Culture Palace, Kafr Shokr Culture Palace, Tahtah Culture Palace, Donshway Culture Palace, Hurghada Culture Palace, Luxor Culture Palace.

 

 The Cultural Forum for Women:

It was organized in 27 branches affiliated to the Culture Palace Authority in activation of the political participation for women, in addition to enhancing her presence in the different sectors of the society.

 

The Authority established a specialized palace for the child culture. It gave due attention to libraries and clubs of the child, boosting his environmental awareness, organizing competitions, exhibitions, and forming movement folkloric troupes, traditional music for children, the effective participation in the Reading for All Festival, and the Children International Book Fair.

 

They are a genuine expression of the ethos of the people and the public memory of history through representation, presenting Egyptian folklore in artistic shows in Cairo and the different governorates, in addition to folk arts of the different countries through hosting them and their participation.

 

It includes a number of distinguished troupes:

Redha Troupe, National Troupe for Folk Arts and National Troupe for Folk Music, Youthful Tunes Band, Show Troupe.

In 2005/06, the House witnessed developing al-Balloon Theatre, and the round of the National Circus in addition to the organization of 6 artistic and folk shows at a number of 836 nights and audience of 282096 individuals.

 

It was established in the 1960s and the Ministry of Culture subsidized it as a unique university, and a member of the Higher Council for Universities specialized in teaching sciences of art. The Academy expanded through several construction projects. In 2005/06, the Higher Institute for Cinema was completed, in addition to the building of Higher Institute for Artistic Criticism, and the Higher Institute for Folk Arts, never to mention the primary and secondary schools of the Academy, and teaching arts at a rate of 85 percent, the building of the Academy hospital, and the project of student residence.

The National Organ for Civilization Coordination was inaugurated in 2004 in the Citadel for setting aesthetic and plastic formations of all Egypt's governorates and eliminating the deformities that prevails the visual image. In addition, confirming the historic and architectural personality and setting binding rules for banners and advertisements in streets.

In 2005/06, the area surrounding Book House was coordinated, in addition to the tourist track in Luxor by adding a distinguished architectural style on the buildings of the villages parallel to the way. Moreover, boost the area surrounding Imbaba Airport, and form an environment prevailed with harmony among its architectural, heritage, and environmental factors.