Jakub Chabr from the Czech Centres highlights the richness of Czech UNESCO tangible and intangible heritage. Photo courtesy of the Czech embassy.
Organized by the Embassy of the Czech Republic in Cairo, the Czech Centres, the National Institute of Folk Culture, and UNESCO Czech Heritage, the exhibition is a collaborative effort that aims to highlight Czechia’s UNESCO heritage in Cairo.
The exhibition has transformed the Czech Embassy wall on Dokki Street into an open-air gallery, allowing passersby to experience the richness of Czech UNESCO heritage.
The official opening ceremony took place on 2 April at the Representative Hall of the Czech Embassy in Cairo, where Ivan Jukl, Ambassador of the Czech Republic to Egypt, delivered the opening speech.
Painter Farid Fadel, El-Sawy Culturewheel founder Mohamed El-Sawy, creator of the El-Sawy Culturewheel Puppet Theatre show, Tereza Svášková, the exhibition coordinator Jakub Chabr from the Czech Centres, and members of the Czech community in Egypt attended the opening.
Fadel, El-Sawy, Czech painter Zlesáková, Czech ambassador Ivan Jukl attending Treasures of Czechia exhibition's opening.
“Czechia’s UNESCO-listed sites and traditions are a testament to our nation’s deep-rooted cultural identity. Whether it is the architectural splendour of Kutná Hora, the unique tradition of puppetry, or the craftsmanship of hand-blown glass, these treasures hold a timeless value that have reserved global recognition,” Jukl commented.
Czech ambassador Ivan Jukl speaks about the Czech UNESCO tangible and intangible heritage.
“The exhibition highlights the shared commitment of both Czechia and Egypt to preserving and celebrating cultural heritage. Just as Egypt’s UNESCO-listed treasures reflect millennia of civilization and artistic mastery, Czechia’s heritage – ranging from medieval towns to vibrant folk traditions – demonstrates the enduring spirit of our nation’s craftsmanship and creativity,” added Svášková.
Alongside the exhibition, two workshops have been organized to explore Czech culture further.
One will be led by Markéta Zlesáková, a Czech painter whose work blends Arabic decorative motifs and calligraphy. At the same time, the other will be conducted by Miroslav Houska, a renowned expert in monument conservation and restoration known for his work on UNESCO-listed sites in Czechia, Iraq, Syria, and beyond.
The exhibition will remain on display until July.
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