Egypt's culture minister, president of Italy's Benedetti Foundation agree to boost cultural exchange

Reham El-Adawi , Wednesday 20 Nov 2019

The culture minister will participate in the Almond Blossom Festival, scheduled for 1-10 March 2020, in Agrigento, Italy

Ines Abdel-Dayem
Anna Maria, Director ofBenedetti Foundation, Culture Minister Ines Abdel-Dayem, with President of the Foundation Eugenio Benedetti (Photo courtesy of the Culture Minister Media Office)
Minister of Culture Ines Abdel-Dayem met with Eugenio Benedetti, president of Benedetti Cultural Charitable Foundation in Italy, and Anna Maria, director of the foundation, to discuss means to boost intellectual and artistic exchange between the Egyptian Ministry of Culture and the foundation, on 17 November.
 
Eugenio Benedetti is the grandson of the founder of the Italian Hospital in Cairo. The foundation, which carries the name of his family, participated in the establishment of numerous economic, charitable, cultural and development projects in Egypt.
 
During the meeting, Abdel-Dayem said "Italy is a golden gateway that helps the Egyptian culture cross the borders to Europe," adding that the different Italian art genres are widely acknowledged in Egypt due to the similarities between the two Mediterranean-cultured peoples.
 
She stressed the need to open new cultural and artistic channels that enhance dialogue of civilisations between the two countries.
 
Abdel-Dayem accepted the invitation of Benedetti to participate in the activities of the 75th edition of the Almond Blossom Festival due to be held from 1 to 10 March 2020, with the participation of 30 countries, in Agrigento, Italy.
 
The festival, will coincide with the celebrations of 2,600 years since the founding of Agrigento, the second oldest city in Italy after Rome. Agrigento, one of the most beautiful cities in Sicily, rises on a plain sheer above the sea. The Valley of the Temples is situated near the sea and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and an important archaeological trace from the ancient Greek civilisation.
 
Abdel-Dayem and Benedetti agreed that the Egyptian participation will include presenting various types of arts highlighting the intellectual and artistic movement in society.
 
They discussed several proposals for cultural and artistic exchange projects, including studying the establishment of a permanent centre for culture in Agrigento. Abdel-Dayem proposed the exchange of artistic shows between the Cairo Opera and Rome Opera, as well as intensifying cooperation with the Egyptian Academy of Arts in Rome.
 
Benedetti pointed out to the importance of enhancing cultural and artistic exchange between his foundation and the Egyptian Ministry of Culture.
Short link: