FLAGSHIP PROGRAMMES
National Network
Egypt
Address
Villa 5, Street 87, Maadi, Cairo EgyptCountry
City
CairoProvince
MaadiMobile Phone
+201112138866Telephone
01112138866E-Mail (2)
lina@mazraanetwork.comWebsite
Click HereYear of Establishment
2019Contact Person1
Youssef MansourJob Title 1
Director and CEOContact Person 2
Lina KhedrJob Title 2
Partner & Project ManagerOrganisation Type
Private CompanyFields of Activity
Arts, Heritage, Media, OthersGeneral Information
Mazra’a Network for Arts and Culture, previously known as 404 for Arts, is a social enterprise based in Cairo, Egypt, aiming to strengthen the social fabric of the city through communal approaches to artistic expression and production.
Founded in 2019 by Youssef Mansour, Mazra’a today is a multi-dimensional network reimagining Egypt’s arts and culture scene to cultivate inclusivity, creativity, and collaboration among diverse stakeholders.
Mazra’a Network houses 3 main subsidiaries: Fabric of Society for Culture and Entertainment, Ibrah for Creative Cultural Management and Consultancy, and The Third Place Studio by Mazra’a. In an almost-literal sense, as farms sustain life and community, Mazra’a is a full-service house, providing a thriving ecosystem that serves both artists and the public.
More about Mazra'a Here: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1WX1WNsFuKAUJKujNge97-BOoQWbXajiq?usp=sharing
Mission and Objectives
Stepping away from the domination of commercial interests that have stifled creativity, marginalized diverse voices, and alienated communities from their cultural heritage, Mazra’a imagines an alternative reality. We seek to challenge this status quo by reclaiming the commons for the arts, and to reconstruct the social fabric, by creating space for artists to occupy, a ground, so that they can land, facilitating artistic collaboration.
We aim to challenge the notion that culture is a luxury item reserved for the privileged. Believing that art is a fundamental human right, a means of expression, connection, and resistance, we hope to inspire a new model for cultural production that is rooted in the values of equity, inclusivity, and sustainability. Mazra’a is open to all artistic disciplines, devoted to their interconnectedness and the crucial role of each in the overall ecosystem.
Main Projects / Activities
1.Major Collaborations & Large-Scale Projects
"So That the Birds Return" (2025) Present – A five-month curated film screening program at Cinema Mounira in partnership with the French Institute in Egypt, featuring diverse film themes with a focus on young emerging filmmakers.
"Tabliyet Masr" (2024-2025) – Organized the third season of a national initiative in collaboration with the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization, including visual festival rebranding, exhibition production, video production, and documentation.
Music Composition Workshop with The Czech Centres in Egypt (2024) – Led to 3 original songs and ongoing musical collaborations among participants.
"Czech the Jam" (2024) – A large-scale jam session with 70+ musicians, structured into acoustic and electric performances, following the music workshop.
2.Cultural & Artistic Festivals
Holter Stills Vol. I & II (2021-2022) – A multi-disciplinary festival combining photography, short films, music performances, and panel discussions, attracting 1,500+ attendees per edition and providing a platform for emerging artists.
3.Open Mics & Performances
"Speak It Out," "Masmou’," "Mar’y," and "Oda" Open Mics (2019-2024) – A multi-year series of conceptual open mics, featuring hundreds of performers and 2,000+ attendees, fostering an inclusive creative community.
Poetry Recitals (2024) – Featured at Cinema Radio Theatre and The Third Place, engaging over 100 attendees, with a strong thematic focus on activism and artistic expression.
4.Establishing a Cultural Hub
The Third Place (2024-Present) – Created a dedicated cultural space hosting music nights, poetry recitals, workshops, and social events, establishing a long-term artistic hub.
5.Cultural & Social Impact Initiatives
Poetry Workshop (2024, UNESCO-funded) – A mental wellness initiative funded by UNESCO’s International Fund for Cultural Diversity (IFCD), helping young people process stress through poetry.
404 Features (2020) – A COVID-19 era online exhibition, providing photographers visibility and exposure when physical events were on hold.
How can you contribute to the Network in your country?
At Mazra’a Network, we use art to strengthen our community and preserve our rich cultural heritage. We create spaces for intercultural dialogue through film screenings, concerts, music nights, poetry recitals, and more.
In our mission to do so, we created “Fabric of Society” which is a multidisciplinary entity which creates space for artists and art enthusiasts to connect, cooperate, and communicate. To face the various barriers artists face in today’s world, local, regional, and global cultural exchange and solidarity are more crucial than ever. FOS is a space for knowledge-sharing and intergenerational creative collaboration.
We have our own space “The Third Place”, a dedicated space hosting music nights, poetry recitals, workshops, and social events, establishing a long-term artistic hub. It greatly supports FOS and hosts many of its activities which welcomes artists from across the region, providing a platform for diversity.
We also offer a variety of services which includes art consultancy, talent management, cultural programming, creative project management, and accessible cultural production through “Ibrah” which is a 360 Creative Cultural Consultancy under the umbrella of Mazraa network.
Within the framework of Ibrah, Ibrah Legal is a platform with a focus on legalities of the entertainment industry for the local music scene. It will be an entity that offers legal help and services for the artistic community and the creative cultural industries, helping cultural actors gain more experience in the legalities of their work and how to protect it. Within Ibrah Legal, We will also launch a project, “The Entertainment Legal Lab” which offers insight and guidance on navigating Legal affairs and disputes within cultural practices for individuals and institutions. The Entertainment Legal Lab will be the first specialised entertainment knowledge hub and platform, facilitating creative practices and easing all legal disputes.
In 2025, we’re also launching a poetry collective for Egyptian poets by Egyptian poets, meant to create a network that writes in collective presence and performs in spaces where they are heard. Currently in the development phase, this collective aims to put poetry back on the map as a medium of artistic expression that is often overlooked.
We can collaborate with other members in the AL network to co-create cultural initiatives and provide a space for dialogue-driven artistic expression. We aim to build stronger euro mediterranean connections through joint events and collaborative projects as we are currently working on a five-month curated film screening program at Cinema Mounira in partnership with the French Institute in Egypt, featuring diverse film themes with a focus on young emerging filmmakers.
Why do you want to join the ALF Network?
As showcased, our aim is to strengthen the social fabric of the city and to create a stronger sense of community around artistic expression and production. Dialogue is a key part of this journey, one that empowers both individuals and communities, creating impactful change across the region. In Mazraa Network we focus on the conservation of the Egyptian heritage and identity and a big part of it is the Mediterranean identity, a region where your organization contributes meaningfully. In this regard, we strongly believe our objectives align.
As a growing social enterprise, we are eager to expand our reach and broaden our impact across diverse regions. We are in an active phase of growth and seeking partnerships that will help us extend our influence. Therefore, we cherish the value and the exposure the membership of your respective network will add to our organization.
Additional Information
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