Immerse yourself in the Cairene spirit at AUC’s inaugural Tahrir CultureFest. This week-long event, which will conclude on Monday, 22 April, celebrates the city’s past, present, and future. Enjoy live music, delve into a treasure trove of books, explore a local market, and walk through captivating exhibitions that celebrate our wonderful, complex city.

Hold your horses — Before you grab your keys and head out, don’t forget to register for the event here at no charge. Doors open every day at 12 pm, but AUC students and alums can enter campus starting at 9 am.

EXHIBITIONS & ACTIVITIES

#1- Tahrir is a time machine. The square is Cairo’s cultural heartbeat, a landmark of grief, joy, and promises of dreams. The Tahrir Images and Narratives exhibition in the Armenian Room documents the many incarnations of the square from 1900-2011, celebrating the space that has changed with the city. The exhibition is open every day from 9am to 9pm.

#2- Explore AUC’s rich history at the AUC Archives Exhibition. This exhibition captured every milestone at AUC between 1920 and 2019. Make sure to check out the archives from the earliest days of The Caravan. The exhibition is open every day of the Culture Fest from 9am to 9pm in the Marriott Room.

#3- Take a leisurely stroll around theHomegrown Market and Bazaar on campus at the Fountain Area behind the Cafeteria. More than 20 local farmers, artisans, entrepreneurs, and AUC alums will be showcasing their finest products in a celebration of Egypt’s thriving local craftsmanship from 12 pm to 9 pm. Only a few booths accept credit cards or Instapay, so keep cash on hand.

#4- Gather ‘round, bookworms. The Book Bazaar at CultureFest is a must-visit. AUC Press and Tanmia Bookstores are offering you great books for special prices. Reread Naguib Mahfouz’s masterpieces, catch up on the latest international fiction, brush up on your history, or learn how to summon spirits and talk to ghosts using Ancient Egyptian magic.

AUC Bookstores is offering 15% off of all non-AUC Press books and 20% off all AUCP books. Yes, that includes the gorgeous coffee table book you’ve been eyeing for months. Tanmia is letting its books go for up to 75% off, so bring a suitcase.

#5- TheCairene Crafts Stations are just a pool of cultural richness. Witness the intricate craftsmanship of woodcarving, brass engraving, and Khiyamiya at this fascinating corner of the Culture Fest. You can watch, meet, and learn from these artists from 12:00pm to 8:00pm on any of the five days left. P.S., be prepared to shell out, because these decorative artworks are too good to not take home.

#6- Did you think we forgot about the kids? Not a chance. CultureFest’s Kids Corner is the perfect place to have fun with your little ones. Let them experience a traditional Aragooz performance, listen to stories by renowned childrens’ storyteller Hanan El Taher, and learn through play with FunLab.

#7- CultureFest x Qahrawya is taking you on a special tour of Tahrir. On Friday and Saturday, you can walk through the streets of Downtown Cairo and uncover the history of AUC Tahrir, Talaat Harb Square, Said Halim Pasha Palace, and other historic monuments. There are two tours per day: One at 10 am and the other at 3 pm. Each tour lasts three hours and attendance is on a first come first served basis.

#8- Pedal around the most architecturally fascinating area in Cairo on Friday between 7:30am and 9:30am. The Cairo Bike Downtown Cultural Heritage will highlight all the landmarks of Downtown Cairo — you’ll never look at the stunning architectural and cultural landscape without wonder again. Unfortunately, registration is closed. Fortunately, if you missed registration but still want to listen about the wonders of downtown Cairo, Downtown on the Move is a panel that will follow the tour to discuss sustainable urban mobility concepts. The panel will take place from 10-11:30am.

#9- Better start on those vocal warmups because it’s time forKaraoke. The AUC Student Union has prepared a night of music and fun from 6-8 pm on Friday. All ages, styles, and expertises are welcome. Whether you’d rather pay tribute to Abdelhalim Hafez or shake it off with Taylor Swift, the stage is yours.

#10- Where did Ramses go? Find out on Sunday, 21 April at 8pm. Director Amr Bayoumi’s award-winning Where Did Ramses Go?, about the relocation of the famous Ramses II statue from Ramsis Square in 2006 is being screened in Ewart Memorial Hall. The film discusses heritage, family dynamics, and the use of ancient symbols in popular and political culture. The screening will be followed by a Q&A with the director, making it a must-attend for film buffs.

PANEL DISCUSSIONS AND TALKS

#1- Traffic is a hallmark of urban living in Cairo: Early birds can catch experts discussing key concepts of sustainable urban mobility in the city. The panel, Downtown on the Move: Mobilizing Active Transport and the X-minute City, will be taking place on Friday, 19 April from 10am to 11:30am in Oriental Hall.

#2- This one’s for entrepreneurs.Industry insiders will be exploring the entrepreneurial landscape in Downtown Cairo on Saturday, 20 April. The Future of Start-Ups in Cairo will be hosted on the GrEEK Campus Rooftop from 1-2 pm.

#3- All roads lead to Downtown, but where is Downtown going? Join real estate gurus in an exploration of how boutique hotels, Airbnb, and coworking spaces are transforming the typology of Downtown’s landmarks. Evolution of Cairo: Downtown Reimagined will be hosted in Ewart Memorial Hall on Saturday, 20 April from 6-7pm.

#4- Cairo’s Cafés are iconic monuments of Downtown Cairo. On Sunday, 21 April at 5-6pm, world-renowned writers will present Cairo Cafés: The History of Cultural Life from the Margin. The significance of cafés within the city’s cultural and sociopolitical history will be explored in Oriental Hall from 5-6pm.

#5- Experience Gazan poetry with acclaimed Palestinian writer Mosab Abu Toha. On Sunday, 21 April, Abu Toha will be doing a reading of Palestinian poems focused on themes of homeland and freedom at 6pm in Oriental Hall, which is followed by a Q&A.

#6- Taking place on Monday will be Omar El Shenety’s analysis of the changes in Cairo’s economy.Economic Inequality in Cairo in Light of Economic Transformations, Social Changes, and Urban Expansion will discuss how the rapid growth of the city, creation of new neighborhoods, changes in the structure of the nuclear family, and evolving attitudes towards wealth and work have contributed to uneven access to resources and opportunities. You can catch this talk in the Armenian Room.

PERFORMANCES

#1- Nothing says Cairo like El Leila El Kebeera. Step into classical Egyptian folklore on Friday, 19 April from 3-4 pm and experience this traditional puppet operetta, originally written in the 1960s by Salah Jaheen and composed by Sayed Makkawi, at Ewart Memorial Hall.

#2- El Warsha Theater Troupe is (re)making history. Starting at 8pm on the same day, El Warsha will be using songs, sketches, and tales to bring Egypt in 1870 — a period that reflects the nation’s identity at the crux of transformation — to life. Catch A Night on Emad el Deen on Friday, 19 April starting 8pm in Ewart Memorial Hall.

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