Cairo Turns Its Streets Into Stages for Free Art

On Thursday evenings, a small pedestrian triangle in downtown Cairo, once a quiet stretch between old banks and broadcasting offices, fills with poetry recitations, puppet shows, and young singers performing without charge. The weekly program, called Street of Art, is a collaboration between the Cairo Governorate and the Academy of Arts, part of the Ministry of Culture. Since its debut on 21 May, it has turned Al-Sherifein Street and the neighboring Borsa Triangle into an open-air venue for free performances. The program’s aim is to make the arts accessible beyond institutional venues. However, whether it can reach the people who rarely enter a gallery, or whether the state-organized stage can offer the unfiltered expression it promises, is far less settled. The events run Thursday through Saturday, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., and are planned to run weekly. Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly attended the launch as part of a tour of downtown revival projects. Alongside singing and puppetry, the program covers painting, music, dance, and caricature, according to the Governor of Cairo, Ibrahim Saber. Entertainment ranges from traditional takht ensembles to opera and musical theater selections. The street is notContinue reading "Cairo Turns Its Streets Into Stages for Free Art" The post Cairo Turns Its Streets Into Stages for Free Art first appeared on Egyptian Streets.