Art D’Égypte by Culturvator proudly inaugurated the fifth edition of the Cairo International Art District (CIAD) in the heart of Downtown Cairo, marking another milestone in Egypt’s thriving contemporary art scene. The 2025 edition unfolds with an impressive breadth of programming across several historic venues, from October 12th to November 16th, 2025.
This year’s edition features 7 individual and collective exhibitions, encompassing a wide range of genres — from contemporary art and digital media to art rugs and a unique culinary experience.
The exhibition brings together artists from across the globe, including Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain, Argentina, South Korea, Russia, Germany, Italy, Brazil, the United States, Oman, Portugal, and Austria. Among the participating names are Noor Al Suwaidi, Sam Shendi, Alex Proba, Rashed Al Shashai, Camille Fishel, Luz Iriarte, Luigi Pensa, Jacopo Valentini, J-Park, Darja Shatalova, Amr El Nagmi, Riham El Adl, Mohamed Abu El Naga, Mahmoud Hamdi, Mohamed Banawy, and Meshal Obaidallah.
This edition also highlights two special collaborations: one with Kahhal 1871, where select artists have translated their artworks into exquisite rug designs; and another collective exhibition that showcases artists represented by multiple galleries, including Cairo Gallery, Mashrabeya Gallery, Motion Gallery, and Folk Gallery, in addition to KOFICE joins as a cultural partner in celebration of 30 years of Egypt–Korea cultural relations, with Korea participating as the guest country at this year’s edition further strengthening the cross-cultural dialogue that defines CIAD’s spirit.
The opening ceremony welcomed an array of distinguished guests, including His Excellency Michele Quaroni, Ambassador of Italy, His Excellency Albert G. Dole, Ambassador of Côte d’Ivoire, and Mr. Byung-Chon Choi, Minister and Consul General of the Embassy of the Republic of Korea, alongside leading public figures, cultural icons, and celebrities who came together to celebrate this vibrant artistic takeover.
Nadine Abdel Ghaffar, Founder of Art D’Égypte by Culturvator, stated:
“It’s a true honor to welcome you all today, celebrating art and culture in the heart of Downtown Cairo. CIAD has always been about creating a living dialogue between heritage and contemporary art where the old and the new coexist, inspiring fresh ways to see, feel, and experience this city. It also aims to create a huge hub for Egyptian artists, giving them greater exposure. We are equally excited this year to welcome our guest country, Korea, in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Korea and KOFICE.”
The event also featured remarks by Karim Shafey, CEO of Al Ismaelia for Real Estate Development, a longstanding partner in the revitalization of Downtown Cairo:
“Our collaboration with Art D’Égypte reflects a shared belief that art has the power to transform how people see heritage. By integrating contemporary art into historic spaces, we breathe new meaning into these buildings, making them relevant, engaging, and alive again. Together, we’re ensuring that Downtown Cairo continues to evolve & preserving its soul.”
Representing the Republic of Korea, Mr. Byung-Chon Choi, Minister and Consul General, expressed his appreciation for this year’s cultural partnership: “It’s truly meaningful that Korea has been invited, for the first time, as the guest country at CIAD, the contemporary art festival that brings such vitality to Downtown Cairo every fall. This year’s invitation is especially significant, as we celebrate the 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Korea and Egypt. We are deeply grateful for the love Egyptians have for K-pop, Korean food, and the Korean language and I’m delighted that your love has now extended to Korean art as well.”
The exhibitions is taking place in multiple Downtown Cairo venues including the Shourbagy Building (Villa Violette, Villa Victoria, Welad El Balad, and the rooftop) and Kodak Passageway by Al ismaeila, which hosts part of the exhibition until November 2nd.
Previous editions of Cairo internatnal art district have attracted significant attendance, reportedly hosting over 5,000 visitors as entry to exhibitions is typically free.
Special thanks to our partners who made this edition possible: our main sponsor Melee; our telecom partner Orange; our financial partner Ulter by Valu; our logistics partner DHL express; Scib Paints; Nadim Foundation; our catering partner Mazmazza; our sustainability partner Nestlé; our art supplier Samir & Ali; our educational partners — the Italian Cultural Institute, the American University in Cairo, the Korean Foundation for International Culture Exchange (KOFICE), and the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Korea; as well as our media partners MO4 Network and Scoop Empire.
Art D’Egypte biography:
Founded by French-Egyptian curator Nadine Abdel Ghaffar, Art D’Égypte supports Egypt’s cultural scene through multidisciplinary initiatives that celebrate both heritage and contemporary creativity. Its annual flagship exhibition, Forever Is Now, held at the Pyramids of Giza, is now in its fifth year. The organization has also promoted Egyptian art internationally at global art fairs, and operates under UNESCO patronage since 2019.
To expand its reach, Art D’Égypte launched CulturVator, a platform uniting its projects under one vision: to activate cultural spaces and foster global collaboration across visual arts, design, film, music, and heritage.
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