The Downtown Contemporary Arts Festival (D-CAF) is taking place from October 17 to November 10, marking its 12th edition this year. D-CAF is the largest international contemporary arts festival in the Arab region. In fact, it is the only festival of its kind in Egypt. It runs for three weeks each year in multiple venues across downtown Cairo. D-CAF brings together a diverse group of Egyptian, Arab, and international artists, gathering in the heart of Cairo.
This Year’s Festivities:
This year’s edition will feature 124 artists from 21 countries, presenting 26 diverse performances. The performances will include performing arts, new media arts, music, and special events. Also, it will feature contemporary art performances, discussions, and visual art exhibitions characterised. Additionally, there will be 9 workshops covering various fields. This year, D-CAFwill include the “Cairo Calling” program, hosting 13 directors and choreographers from the Arab region and Arab expatriates. This year’s festival will also include a training program supported by the MBC Academy in Saudi Arabia, inpartnership with Wasla for Arts. This will offer training for 10 emerging cultural managers in festival management.
Director Ahmed El Attar said,
“In light of these circumstances, the festival is directly influenced by what is happening in the region, including the tragic scenes we witness daily in Palestine, Lebanon, Yemen, and Sudan. We are part of the heart of this region, and this year we deeply feel and interact with what is happening around us.”
Performing Arts:
The performing arts program at D-CAF promises to be a highlight this year. It will feature several performances making their Arab region debut. The festival kicks off with the premiere of ‘Taste Me.’ It is a collaborative Egyptian-French production that combines interactive theater with culinary art. Audiences can also look forward to ‘The Book of Neptune.’ It is a captivating puppet show from Hungary that uses illuminated puppets, as well as ‘Face à La Mere’ from France, which will be presented in the Arab region for the first time.
Visual Arts & New Media:
In visual arts and new media, D-CAF showcases a remarkable array of exhibitions and innovative experiences that tackle pressing issues like economic challenges, war, and displacement. The exhibition ‘Where Do Dreams Go?’ opens the program in collaboration with Mazg for Culture and Arts, featuring the works of 30 artists who explore these themes through comic art, following an open call launched in August.
Special Events:
This year’s festival also includes a variety of special events, starting with “Table Top Shakespeare” by the UK-based Forced Entertainment group and “No Such Thing” by the UK’s Quarantine group, both set to take place in various restaurants across Downtown Cairo.
As D-CAF draws to a close, the ‘Cairo Calling’ program will take center stage. This initiative, spearheaded by the Arab Arts Focus (AAF), aims to support Arab artists and promote contemporary arts through a residency and training program. It will feature eight performances by emerging artists from the Arab region, presented to a select audience of local and international programmers. Throughout the festival, 13 emerging performing artists from Egypt, the Arab world, and the UK will participate in training sessions covering dramaturgy, production, and more.