The Definitive Guide to Living in the Capital , Cairo , Egypt

The Downtown Contemporary Arts Festival, D-CAF, the largest international contemporary arts festival in the Arab region, is preparing to launch its 12th edition from October 17 to November 10, 2024. The festival, held across multiple venues in downtown Cairo, will feature 124 artists from 21 countries, featuring 26 performances, including performing arts, new media, and music.

D-CAF introduces several new elements this year, including the Cairo Calling program, workshops, and special partnerships to support emerging artists and cultural managers. The event also marks the return of collaborations with international groups such as the UK-based Forced Entertainment and Quarantine. Special events like Table Top Shakespeare and No Such Thing will be performed in unconventional venues, such as restaurants in downtown Cairo, enhancing audience interaction.

Festival Director Ahmed El Attar emphasised that this year’s festival reflects the region’s challenging economic and political landscape, especially the conflicts in Palestine, Lebanon, Yemen, and Sudan. Despite these struggles, El Attar affirmed that the festival remains a platform for hope, fostering resilience through art and cultural exchange. He further highlighted D-CAF’s role in providing training and knowledge-sharing initiatives for young Egyptian and Arab artists, focusing on future opportunities despite the present difficulties.

One of the festival’s core elements is its comprehensive training program, developed in partnership with the MBC Academy in Saudi Arabia and Wasla for Arts, designed to equip 10 emerging cultural managers with skills in festival management. Additionally, the Cairo Calling initiative will feature eight performances by emerging Arab artists, part of the Arab Arts Focus (AAF) residency and training program.

The festival’s visual arts and new media program features several innovative exhibitions addressing themes of economic hardship, war, and displacement. One highlight is the Where Do Dreams Go? exhibition, which brings together 30 artists who will be showing comics through a collaboration with Mazg for Culture and Arts.

D-CAF continues to be a beacon for contemporary arts in Egypt, creating a vibrant cultural exchange between local and international artists. This year’s festival promises to be a powerful reflection of the region’s complexities while championing the transformative power of art. 

Since its inception in 2012, the Downtown Contemporary Arts Festival (D-CAF) has been organised annually by Orient Productions, establishing itself as Egypt’s largest multidisciplinary arts festival. The festival spans performing arts, new media, visual arts, and more, attracting international and local artists to downtown Cairo. Through its partnership with Al Ismaelia for Real Estate Investment, D-CAF uses unconventional venues, such as the historic Radio Cinema and Kodak Passageway, to challenge traditional audience-performer dynamics and celebrate the cultural richness of Downtown Cairo, making art accessible to all.