Art Beach ignites summer nights in Ras El Bar, drawing crowds to Damietta's new city
Translated from Arabic and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.
At a glance
- The "Art Beach" initiative by Egypt's Ministry of Culture offers free nightly art performances in Ras El Bar, featuring amateur talent and traditional folk arts.
- The free, family-friendly shows have attracted large, enthusiastic crowds, with attendees praising the quality and variety of the performances.
- The initiative aims to revive cultural heritage and fill a gap in public cultural spaces, with discussions underway to establish more permanent cultural venues in Damietta.
Egypt's Ministry of Culture has launched "Art Beach," a vibrant initiative bringing free nightly artistic performances to the coastal city of Ras El Bar. These events, held in the Roman Theater square, have become a highly anticipated attraction, drawing significant public interest with their diverse offerings of amateur talent and traditional folk arts.
Every day there's a new show, but most importantly, it's not vulgar and is suitable for the family.
The performances feature various troupes, including singers performing classic Egyptian songs and folk music ensembles showcasing authentic popular folklore. The accessibility of these free shows, which do not rely on celebrity performers, has been a key factor in their widespread appeal. Visitors have expressed strong satisfaction, noting the family-friendly nature of the entertainment and the high quality of the amateur artists.
Attendees have praised the initiative for its ability to connect with the audience and revive cultural heritage. One visitor remarked, "Every day there's a new show, but most importantly, it's not vulgar and is suitable for the family." Another added, "I follow all the Art Beach shows and haven't missed one. I've seen multiple talents that have impressed the entire audience."
I follow all the Art Beach shows and haven't missed one. I've seen multiple talents that have impressed the entire audience.
Najwa Kiwan, Director General of Culture in Damietta, highlighted the careful selection of participating groups to ensure a variety of arts with a strong traditional character. She emphasized that the success of "Art Beach" stems from its ability to attract the interest of all family members, which is a primary goal. The governorate has provided full support to ensure the success of these programs.
In the Art Beach shows, we found our popular heritage and performances that took us back to the era of authentic art. These shows have become part of our daily lives, and I see them as very successful.
The "Art Beach" events are not limited to Ras El Bar; similar performances are taking place in the central park of Damietta New City. This expansion aims to showcase promising talents and further engage the public. Local writers and cultural researchers have underscored the need for more public cultural venues in Damietta, citing the success of "Art Beach" as evidence of the community's appetite for such artistic expressions. They believe these events are crucial for nurturing local talent and enriching the cultural landscape of the region.
The selection of the participating groups in the Art Beach nights shows was done with great care. We want to present diverse types of arts, all carrying a heritage character.
Originally published by Al-Masry Al-Youm in Arabic. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.