Why Downtown? Nadine Abdelghaffar & Karim Shafei on CIAD's Journey
The Cairo International Art District has brought hundreds of Egyptian contemporary artists into focus.
Not too long ago, an art exhibition in Cairo wasn’t exactly a viral moment. Gallery walls rarely crossed paths with tourism slogans, and real estate developers and curators weren’t swapping notes. Over the past five years, Cairo International Art District has leaned into that overlap, bringing contemporary projects into Downtown’s long-standing cultural and urban fabric and reframing the city’s art scene for a wider audience.
Spearheaded by Nadine Abdelghaffar, founder of the world-famous Forever Is Now at the Pyramids, in partnership with Karim Shafei of Al Ismaelia, the Cairo International Art District has brought hundreds of Egyptian contemporary artists into focus. Each year, rising names and established veterans share space in the heart of Downtown Cairo, where historic buildings frame their work and the setting becomes as much a part of the story as the art itself.
With the fifth edition of Cairo International Art District less than a month away, opening on October 12th, we met Nadine Abdelghaffar and Karim Shafei in Downtown Cairo to trace CIAD’s journey. Why Downtown? And why not a white cube? Watch the video for the full story.
