Festival of the Arts - May 6-30, 2013

In Peace and with Compassion...The Way Forward
Premier Egyptian and Western Artists using the Arts as a bridge across creeds and cultures

As Egypt seeks to find its path into the future, our 2013 CARAVAN Festival of the Arts had the theme “In Peace and with Compassion…The Way Forward”. The response to the festival was beyond all our expectations, attracted thousands of visitors from around Egypt and the world and generating attention from the international media and art world. Over 45 premier Egyptian and Western visual artists were invited to participate in this unique public art-oriented exhibition. The 2013 CARAVAN Festival of the Arts was sponsored by the Embassy of Switzerland in Egypt, and supported by the British Council.

The Honorable Dominik Furgler, Ambassador of Switzerland to Egypt), says, “I am particularly delighted to be directly associated to this wonderful initiative, Caravan interfaith art exhibition. In a world and time where sectarian tension, prejudice or ignorance seem to prosper, we must do whatever we can to further dialogue and the mutual knowledge about our religious traditions and convictions. This Caravan exhibition is doing just that, with the Arts uniting us as a language of love and peace.”

In recognition of the many Muslims and Christians who are peacefully together walking the road toward a new Egypt, the 2013 CARAVAN Festival of the Arts focused on being a creative demonstration of inter-religious dialogue and intercultural exchange.

Believing that the Arts can be one of the most effective mediums of building bridges of understanding, respect and friendship between East and West, their creed and cultures, the exhibition seeks to communicate the important message of tolerance between Middle Easterners and Westerners, and Christians and Muslims, living together in “peace and with compassion”…a message that comes “out of Egypt” for the rest of the world.

The festival focused on visual public art, literature, film and music.

VISUAL PUBLIC ART EXHIBITION –Opening Night, May 9

Over 45 premier Egyptian and Western visual artists were invited to participate in what was a truly unique public art-oriented exhibition for Cairo. Each participating artist was given two fiberglass donkeys (one that is life-size and one that is 1/4 life-size) to paint as they wish according to the theme: “In Peace and with Compassion—the Way Forward”. The exhibition follows in the footsteps of an approach to public art that has featured painted animals, yet with an added depth in its symbolism, intention and message. It is with this purpose that the donkey was selected. The donkey symbolizes peace and compassion in cultures of Egypt and the West, as well as in their creeds.

Paul-Gordon giving opening address		Opening words from a Muslim Imam of Al Azhar

Viewing the exhibition of life-size painted donkeys

Viewing the exhibition of painted small donkeys

FILM NIGHT—May 11

Our special film guest was the noted Egyptian actor Amr Waked (who has starred in films such as Contagion, Syriana and Salmon Fishing in the Yemen), who gave a talk and a screening of his latest film, Winter of Discontent

LITERATURE NIGHT—May 13

The special literary guest was Dr Alaa El Aswany, the best selling novelist of The Yacoubian Building, who lectured and shared about his newly released book, The Automobile Club,

MUSIC NIGHT—May 16

The renowned oud (lute) composer and player, Georges Kazazian performed a closing concert, under an artistic installation titled 99 Doves by artist Claire Marie Pearman.

Opening Artists’ Launching Reception –

The participating artists met together for an Opening Launch Reception on February 23, 2013 to meet each other, exchange ideas and to receive their two fiberglass donkeys (life-size and ¼ size) to begin their painting of them.

Artist Maged Mikhail with a donkey		Transporting the donkeys to an artist's studio
Artists with curator and founder Paul-Gordon Chandler		Artists selecting their donkeys