Art Jameel launched Atelier Cairo 18 March in Zamalek to support entrepreneurship among Egyptian craft designers and artisans.

"Bridging Cairo’s vibrant entrepreneurship ecosystem and the ancient, living traditions of Egyptian craft, Atelier Cairo Art Jameel aims to support the practice of traditional arts by empowering craft designers with the tools to start or expand their businesses," reads the Art Jameel official press release.

Atelier Cairo is a new platform launched to help provide traditional craftspeople and designers entrepreneurial opportunities. The innovative model combines business training and access to finance with a co-working space and public programme of craft workshops.

Cairo Atelier Art Jameel (Photo: Mostafa Abdel Aty)

According to its press release, Art Jameel has been working to preserve the traditional arts in Egypt since 2008, when it joined the Prince’s Foundation School of Traditional Arts and Egypt’s Cultural Development Fund to launch the Jameel House of Traditional Arts / Cairo with a two-year diploma programme in craft and design.

Atelier Cairo Art Jameel complements that programme and is providing support to a number of alumni of the Jameel House of Traditional Arts / Cairo.

"Atelier Cairo Art Jameel also builds on the work of Art Jameel’s sister organisation, Community Jameel, which operates livelihood and microfinance programmes in Egypt through its Bab Rizq Jameel initiative. Community Jameel is also a founding partner of the MIT Enterprise Forum Arab Startup Competition, now in its 12th edition, and a pillar of the Arab region’s entrepreneurship ecosystem, especially in Egypt, from where numerous winners and finalists have been selected. The winner of the 2017 competition’s social entrepreneurship track was the Egyptian craft startup Kiliim."

Atelier Cairo Art Jameel is located at 13a Mohammed Maraashly Street, Zamalek, Cairo. 

Cairo Atelier Art Jameel (Photo: Mostafa Abdel Aty)

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