Ministry of Planning and Economic Development Reviews Targets of the Cultural Services Sector in the Current FY 23/2024 Plan

The Ministry of Planning and Economic Development has issued a report reviewing the targets of the cultural services sector in the current fiscal year 23/2024.

H.E. Dr. Hala El Said, Minister of Planning and Economic Development, emphasized that preserving cultural heritage is a fundamental characteristic of civilized societies. She also highlighted the importance of diversifying cultural products and enhancing the quality of cultural services for the development of intellectual properties and creative capacities of individuals and society as a whole. Thus, providing one of the essential components for achieving comprehensive and sustainable development. From this perspective, the developmental vision for the cultural services sector is embodied in establishing a system of positive cultural values in society that respects diversity and differences, enables the acquisition of knowledge tools, opens horizons for interaction with contemporary data, and grants the ability to choose freely and secure the rights to practice and produce culture.

The report of the Ministry of Planning and Economic Development outlined the targets of the cultural services sector in the 23/2024 plan, where the plan aims to complete five projects and continue 120 projects. The most important targeted projects include:

- Implementation of 11 projects for the Academy of Arts.

- Execution of eight projects for the visual arts sector.

- Completion of development works for 34 culture palaces, including (Abu Simbel Cultural Palace in Aswan, Samer Cultural Palace, Hihya Cultural Palace in Sharkia, Raud Al-Faraj Cultural Palace, and Hurghada Cultural Palace).

- Completion of the development of eight children's cultural houses, including (Abu Al-Matamir Cultural House in Lake Lake, Abu Tesh Cultural House in Qena, Al-Qantara Sharq Cultural House in Ismailia, and Zinin Cultural House in Giza).

- Development of 14 theaters, including (Al-Salam Theater and Mansoura National Theater).

- Development of three museums (Giza Island Palace Museum in Cairo, Museum of Modern Egyptian Art, and House of the Nation Museum).

- Providing six mobile libraries affiliated with the Egyptian Public Library.

- Digitizing branches of the Egyptian Public Library in Al-Zawya Al-Hamra, Al-Zaytoun, and Al-Dokki.

The report explained that the most important achievements of the cultural services sector in 2022 include:

- Rehabilitation, renewal, and efficiency improvement of ten creative sites.

- Completion of six other sites in preparation for their opening in 2023.

- Implementation of more than two thousand activities in the villages of Decent Life, in twelve governorates.

- Cooperation with the Ministries of Local Development, Education, and the Holding Company for Water, the Fund for Combating Addiction, and the National Council for Women.

- Organizing artistic and craft workshops for women, children, and youth.

- Establishing the "Human Rights and Citizenship Committee" within the cultural committees of the Supreme Council of Culture.

- Preparing to establish the "General Administration for Human Rights" to develop executive plans on mechanisms for implementing the national strategy for human rights.

- Signing several protocols and memoranda of understanding with a group of Arab and foreign countries in various cultural fields and activities.

- Participation in more than 160 international events and festivals.

- Hosting a number of artists and celebrities in many festivals and creative forums organized by Egypt.

- Organizing about 392 events by the General Authority for Cultural Palaces, benefiting about 128 thousand individuals, as part of the first phase of the "National Project for the Development of the Egyptian Family."

- Implementing 123 activities in 15 villages during the second phase, with a total of about 20 thousand beneficiaries.

- Implementation of the "Vision" project, one of the enlightenment projects, in cooperation between the Ministry of Culture and the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities.

- Activating cooperation protocols to introduce cultural activity into the school day.

- Implementing cultural activities within Egyptian universities.

- Cooperation between the Ministry of Culture and the Ministry of Local Development in the "Ayadi" initiative for the Ministry of Culture by hosting their exhibitions within various events.

- Organizing the 30th edition of the International Salah El-Din Castle Music and Singing Festival, and the activities of the Roman Theater Festival in Alexandria.

- Holding artistic concerts and theatrical performances.

- Holding book fairs through the Egyptian General Authority (the 54th session of the Cairo International Book Fair, which included more than 500 cultural and artistic events).