In a recent press release, the Culture Resource (Al-Mawred Al-Thakafy) has announced that it will no longer manage El-Geneina Theatre.

 

The announcement comes a few months after the Culture Resource announced freezing all it's activities in Egypt. Though in November 2014 the Culture Resource did not provide clear reasons behind this decision, the announcement came at a time when a new NGO law was being drafted that could jeopardise the work of the institution.

 

During its decade of activities in Egypt, the Culture Resource managed El-Geneina Theatre that served as its major stage for music, theatre, circus and other events. El-Geneina hosted the institution's regular festivals such as the Hayy, Spring Festival and CirCairo, always attracting large audiences to its location at Al-Azhar Park.

 

El Geneina Theatre wil be now managed by a newly created entity, El-Geneina Company, presented as "an independent organisation" that will host artistic and cultural events, and develop an entrepreneurial model of cultural management.

 

"El-Geneina will present services and productions such as concerts, trainings and festivals from all artistic genres and cultural fields to Egyptian audiences, while developing tools in promotion and marketing to become a self-sustaining entity," the Cultural Resource press release reads.

 

"The El-Geneina Company will adopt these mechanisms and techniques in order to meet the challenges that face those who work in the creative industry, and to open the door for those interested in culture and arts to invest in and play a key role in presenting works of high artistic quality to Egyptian audiences through attending and supporting El-Geneina Theatre."

 

The press release announces also the launch of the theatre's 11th season with its first concert scheduled 9 May. The concert will feature Moroccan jazz singer Oum.