2011 Caravan Festival of the Arts

“My Neighbor” & “The Peoples’ Egypt since 25 January”

…in association with the 2011 UN World Interfaith Harmony Week

The 2011 CARAVAN Festival of the Arts was held in celebration of the Egyptian Muslims and Christians who are walking together the road toward a new Egypt.  During the weeks of and following the “January 25 revolution”, an unprecedented unity of Muslims and Christians has been witnessed at the grassroots level, working side by side to re-shape their country.  Hence a parallel revolution has taken place in the minds of many Egyptians about their value to each other...regardless of creed.

The 3rd CARAVAN Festival of the Arts, held at the historic St. John’s Church / Maadi, Cairo, comes out of a vision that the Arts can be one of the most effective mediums to build bridges, deepen respect, and encourage friendship between Muslims and Christians, and between the Middle East and West.  

48 premier Middle Eastern and Western visual artists submitted work for a selling exhibition that reflected the theme “My Neighbor,” echoing the words of the early 20th century Lebanese writer and artist, Kahlil Gibran; “Your neighbor is your other self dwelling behind a wall.  In understanding, all walls shall fall down.”   

Additionally, a parallel exhibition was held entitled “The Peoples’ Egypt since January 25th “, and the artists were invited to contribute artworks that were created in response to the events of the Egyptian revolution.   

The 2011 festival’s primary sponsors were British Council-Egypt, Coca-Cola, and the Episcopal Foundation of Wyoming. 

Around the visual art exhibitions other artistic programs were held.

*OPENING NIGHT Program (12 May at 7 PM) entailed an Opening Presentation by the UN Resident Coordinator, The Honorable James Rawley, with Opening Remarks by Bishop Botros, General Bishop for the Coptic Orthodox Church, and Bishop Mouneer H. Anis, President Bishop for the Episcopal Province of Jerusalem and the Middle East and Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Egypt, including a visiting delegation of 20 Imams from Alexandria, Egypt.

*LITERARY PRESENTATION   (14 May at 7 PM) A talk and book-signing by Khaled El Khamissi, best-selling Egyptian author of the internationally acclaimed novels Taxi  and Noah’s Ark, followed by a book-signing.

*MUSIC CONCERT  (18 May at 7:00 PM) A closing concert by world renowned Ney (Middle Eastern flute) player, Mohammed Antar.

Throughout the 2011 CARAVAN Festival of the Arts the visual art selling exhibition on the themes of “My Neighbor” and “The Peoples’ Egypt since 25 January” was open to the public with many coming to view the art work displayed. 20% of all sales went to the Spirit of Giving charity that assists local Egyptian charities serving the poor, both Muslims and Christians.

Visitors to “My Neighbor” exhibition inside St. John’s Church

Rev. Canon Paul-Gordon Chandler, Founder of CARAVAN, conversing with Imams at exhibition “The Peoples’ Egypt since 25 January”

Also, the curator of the visual art exhibition, Roland Prime, and Rev. Canon Paul-Gordon Chandler, founder of CARAVAN, visited participating artists in their studios. Additionally, various opportunities were provided for all participating artists to meet together.

Artist Mohamed Abla speaking at Caravan Artists’ launch dinner	Roland Prime, curator, briefing artists