2012 Caravan Festival of the Arts

The Road Ahead --The 4th Annual Caravan Festival of the Arts
April 26-May 5, 2012
(Premier Middle Eastern and Western Artists use the Arts as a bridge for inter-religious and intercultural dialogue)

In the year following Egypt’s “January 25th revolution,” as the country seeks to find its way into the future, the 4th annual CARAVAN Festival of the Arts (2012) with the theme “The Road Ahead” was held in Maadi/Cairo at St. John’s Church from April 26-May 5, 2012. While recognizing it will be a long and at times difficult road for Egypt, the annual CARAVAN Festival of the Arts focuses on ending sectarian strife and encourages the establishment of a society that inherently respects and honors religious diversity, living and working together in harmony.

The goal of the CARAVAN Festival of the Arts is to build bridges between creeds (Islam and Christianity) and cultures (East and West) through the visual arts, literature, film and music. This strategic inter-religious arts initiative over the last four years has generated significant attention from the international media and art world.

The 2012 CARAVAN Festival of the Arts, with the theme of “The Road Ahead” focused on building on the new spirit of interfaith solidarity that was so beautifully illustrated, witnessed by the world, during the “January 25 revolution” in 2011.

Hosted at the historic St. John’s Church in Maadi/Cairo, the CARAVAN arts initiative comes out of a vision that the Arts can be one of the most effective mediums to enhance understanding and encourage friendship between Muslims and Christians, for as the late Nobel Prize Egyptian novelist Naguib Mahfouz wrote, “Art is language of the entire human personality."

45 premier Middle Eastern and Western visual artists came together for a selling exhibition held inside St. John’s Church, with each submitting one piece of work that reflected the theme, “The Road Ahead”. The visual art exhibition was curated by participating British artist Roland Prime, and included a diverse range of noted Arab contemporary artists such as Reda Abdel Rahman and Mohamed Abla, to expatriate artists such as the well-known Norwegian artist Britt Boutros Ghali and renowned American sculptor Erik Blome..

Many attended and there was considerable Arab and Western media coverage. “It could not be timelier,” said Rev. Canon Paul-Gordon Chandler, author and the American Rector/Minister of St. John’s Church and Founder of the Caravan Festival of the Arts, “to be involved in this interfaith aspect of peace-building in this country, toward promoting a sectarian-free Egypt”.

Roland Prime, curator of the 2012 CARAVAN Festival’s visual arts exhibition, says, “Our desire through this fourth exhibition was to address the importance of religious harmony and unity for Egypt’s future.”

The 2012 festival’s primary sponsors were British Council-Egypt and Coca-Cola.

Around the visual art exhibition various artistic programs were held focusing on the literature and music.

The 2012 CARAVAN Festival of the Arts was officially opened on April 26, 2012 at 7 PM, by Yousra, the celebrated Egyptian actress, Dr. Mahmoud Azab (Consultant for the Grand Imam of Al Azhar for the Interfaith Dialogues), Sheikh Mohammed Gemeah (Member of the Al Azhar-Anglican Communion Dialogue) and the Most Rev Dr Mouneer H Anis. The opening program closed with a special performance by well-known singer Rula Zaki.

Yousra, celebrated Egyptian actress, Anglican Bishop Mouneer Anis, Sheikh Mohammed Gemeah of Al Azhar	Opening Night audience

FILM 26 April Yousra, the celebrated Egyptian actress and former UNDP Goodwill Ambassador gave a talk about the importance of freedom of artistic expression.
	Yousra speaking about artistic freedom of expression

	LITERATURE 2 May A talk and book-signing by Ahdaf Soueif, the Anglo-Egyptian Booker Prize shortlist author of internationally acclaimed novels Map of Love and In the Eye of the Sun. The title of her talk was on her new book: Cairo: My City, Our Revolution.
Author Ahdaf Soueif speaking to a full packed audience about her new book, Cairo
MUSICAL CONCERT 26 April and 5 May On the opening night, the popular Egyptian singer Rula Zaki performed her song, Ahl El Ketaab. A closing concert was held with the Ana Masry Band (meaning “I am Egyptian” in Arabic): a musical group that has become very trendy since the revolution known for their fusion of Arabic, Muslim, Sufi and Christian music.
Egyptian singer Rula Zaki performing at Opening Night program Ana Masry Band performing

Throughout the 2012 CARAVAN Festival of the Arts the visual art selling exhibition 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.
Viewing the art exhibiiton (1)	Viewing the art exhibiiton (2)

All 45 artists from East and West came together for a launching reception and dinner on January 16, 2012.

Artists at Opening Reception for Visual Artists		Artists from East and West at Launch Dinner
Eastern and Western artists meeting together at St. John's Church for briefing on 2012 Caravan Festival		Caravan Founder, Rev. Paul-Gordon Chandler with Egyptian artist Reda Abdel Rahman
Curator Roland Prime talking with Founder, Rev. Paul-Gordon Chandler		Western Participating Artists at Opening Artists' Reception
Egyptian artists at Opening Artists' Reception