Press Release: Med Culture organises the first meeting of the “National Focus Group” on the development of the cultural sector in Egypt

Med Culture, a regional programme funded by the European Union (EU), organised the first meeting of the Egyptian “National Focus Group” on the development of the cultural sector, on Wednesday, 25 March, 2015 at the European Union delegation to Egypt, with the participation of representatives of the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, of Culture, and of Youth, as well as Egyptian cultural practitioners.

Following two roundtable consultations held in Cairo with the Egyptian authorities and cultural practitioners earlier in June 2014, a “National Focus Group” has been established to work closely with Med Culture on activities aimed at developing the cultural sector in Egypt.

The meeting aimed at reviewing and discussing the calendar of activities planned within the framework of the programme, based on the priorities identified during the consultation meetings.

The activities will generally tackle themes that are specific to Egypt such as the establishment of a body to advocate, lobby and fundraise for culture and arts in the country. Egypt will also be involved in other activities tackling themes that are common across the south Mediterranean region, such as the promotion of pilot projects for the enhancement of higher education and vocational training in artistic disciplines and cultural policies and management, cultural entrepreneurship and promotion of employability, status of the artist, and the definition of actions for the promotion of culture in the peripheries.

Med Culture Med is a four-year regional programme (2014-2018) funded by the European Union to accompany partner countries in south of the Mediterranean in the development and improvement of cultural policies and practices related to the culture sector. The approach is consultative/participative and takes place in partnership with civil society actors, ministries, private and public institutions involved in culture as well as other related sectors.