FLAGSHIP PROGRAMMES
National Network
Egypt
Address
159 July 26th Axis, Kasr Al Shamea St., Old CairoCairoCairo Governorate11211EgyptCountry
City
CairoStreet address 2
159 July 26th Axis, Kasr Al Shamea St., Old CairoMobile Phone
01000271801Telephone
01229233204E-Mail (2)
shorouk.elhariry@darb1718.comE-Mail (3)
nourhan@darb1718.comWebsite
Click HereYear of Establishment
2010Contact Person1
Shorouk El HariryJob Title 1
Programs and Operations ManagerContact Person 2
Farah NasrJob Title 2
Managing DirectorOrganisation Type
Non-Governmental OrganizationFields of Activity
ArtsGeneral Information
Darb 1718 is a contemporary art and culture center that was established in 2010. It is led by Managing Director Farah Nasr and Artistic Director (and founder) Moataz Nasr. Currently, Darb 1718 is operated by a staff of 5-10 full-time employees, with an annual budget of around USD 50,000 – a significant decrease in comparison to the past years after around 80% of its physical space was demolished by governmental authorities. The organization is self-financed (60%) and has received funding from a number of international donors, such as Moleskine Foundation and the African Development Fund. Darb 1718 currently runs a workshops program to offer alternative learning spaces for young and emerging artists alongside its artist residency program. It also runs a cultural program at its remaining facilities (exhibition space and two workshop spaces).
Mission and Objectives
Situated in the heart of Old Cairo, Darb 1718 is a contemporary art and culture center that has continuously breathed life into the Egyptian contemporary arts scene.
Since its establishment in 2010, Darb has cultivated a steadfast long-term vision centered on community-oriented arts, fostering the creativity of emerging artists, and promoting societal transformation. We experience the contemporary arts as a movement, Darb 1718 being one of its dynamic hubs. This is enacted through our
efforts to:
1- Provide suitable spaces and resources for exhibitions, concerts, festivals, independent film screenings and arts activities.
2- Ensure the accessibility of the arts through offering spaces for participatory alternative arts education, especially for underrepresented societal groups including
underprivileged youth, women, persons with disability, and older adults.
3- Continuously engage local artisans in the Egyptian contemporary arts movement.
4- Promote community engagement through the arts.
5- Discover young talented individuals who use various forms of artistic expression and link them to the local and international art scene.
6- Provide guidance, training and services to promote creativity and free artistic expression in Egypt and abroad.
7- Promote underground music and innovative art forms.
8- Provide international artists with the space and resources to experience the Egyptian local art scene as well as cross-cultural co-creation.
Main Projects / Activities
In addition to its cultural programming (including exhibitions, concerts, artist residencies, and workshops), Darb 1718 has birthed the "Something Else" contemporary arts festival. Something Else is an international art event consisting of art exhibitions, art performances, films, music, diverse workshops, and art talks by local, international artists that takes place in the heart of Cairo, Egypt. Something Else aims to explore the meaning of contemporary art today, introduce new and progressive presentations
to the Egyptian art scene, further connect Egypt to the International art scene and importantly, offer an opportunity for exchange among local and international artists, curators and local artisans.