Alba underlined the institute's keenness to cooperate with local and international cultural entities and institutions, through its various events and activities, as a fundamental pillar for building bridges of communication between the Egyptian society and 21 Spanish-speaking countries.

"The institute supports these activities in cooperation with the diplomatic missions of Spanish-speaking countries in Egypt," he stressed.

"The centre pays great attention to organizing and supporting events that include Egyptian artists and their counterparts from Spanish-speaking countries; hence the interest in sustainable participation over the years in local festivals such as the She Arts Festival, the Panorama of European Cinema Festival, and the Cairo Jazz Festival scheduled to be held in November," he said. 

He added that these activities aim to bring together artists from different countries in a creative residency in Egypt with the participation of local artists, culminating in the presentation of joint works.

The centre also cooperates with Egyptian cultural institutions, including the Academy of Arts, especially in organizing the Micro Theatro Festival, and the Bibliotheca Alexandrina, to organize many events in its Cairo and Alexandria branches.

Moreover, Alba pointed out that the centre organizes "educational activities targeting students and those working in Spanish studies, to spread the Spanish language and create spaces for dialogue between cultures, in cooperation with the Spanish language departments in the Egyptian universities."

"This is achieved through its specialized courses and the Diploma in Spanish as a Foreign Language (DILE) exams, which provide the opportunities to study at Spanish universities and open new horizons for work in Spanish-speaking countries," he further explained.

"The sustainable cooperation between the Cervantes Institute and the European Union's National Institutes of Culture (EUNC), of which the Cervantes Institute is a member, represents an essential tool for the geographical spread of cultural events, expanding the scope of dialogue and reaching those interested in culture and arts throughout the republic," Alba noted.

He clarified that while the Cervantes Institute operates in Cairo and Alexandria through its official headquarters, the partnership with EUNC allows for further spread within the governorates of the republic.

Meanwhile, the institute's cultural activities officer Miguel Grajales said the goal as a cultural centre is to stimulate a creative and mutual dialogue with local artists, professionals, and technicians to enhance Spanish cultural exchange and find points of intersection and cultural convergence with Egyptian society.

Grajales also emphasized the importance of joint work to enhance the effectiveness of cultural efforts and that such multi-faceted cooperation has been at the heart of the Cervantes Institute's goals since its establishment by the Spanish government in 1991. It aimed to meet the strategic need to support the country’s external work worldwide, especially regarding teaching the Spanish language and introducing Spanish culture.

"This is in addition to finding points of convergence with other cultures, which cannot be achieved without close cooperation with various local and international governmental and private entities,” he concluded.

The Cervantes Institute is offering a full artistic and cultural agenda during September and October, including the Reading Club, the screening of films from Chile, a photography exhibition, the Micro Theatro Festival, and literary encounters, to mention but a few.