The Art Jameel Program for Traditional Arts and Crafts celebrated the graduation of a new generation of artists and artisans at the Fustat Traditional Crafts Centre. "This year we are very proud of the improved quality of the pieces," said program director Mamdouh Sakr. "The students showed dedication and enthusiasm, and this was reflected in their work." Established in 2008 by Art Jameel, a Community Jameel initiative, in collaboration with the Prince's School of Traditional Arts and the Egyptian Ministry of Culture, the program aims to train young Egyptians in the traditional arts, covering geometry, painting, color theory, woodworking, ceramics, gypsum & stained glass, metalwork, and many other handicrafts. Of the 17 students who graduated at the ceremony on August 25th, eight specialized in ceramics, six in woodwork, and three in metalwork. "The thing I benefited from the most was the design curriculum, it was excellent," said Ola Said, one of the students specialized in ceramics, whose graduation project, a fully functional traditional drinking fountain constructed of ceramics and artificial stone, is among the most ambitious this year. "Throughout the year we had several intensive week-long workshops, with specialized trainers from the Prince's School of Traditional Arts in London. The handicrafts curriculum was excellent as well, and the support was great," she added. The graduation ceremony took place in the presence of students' friends and family, alumni from previous editions of the program, as well as several distinguished guests from Egypt's cultural scene, including Neveen El-Kilany, head of the Cultural Development Fund at the Egyptian Ministry of Culture. After a walk-through of the exhibition displaying students' work, Sakr and director of the Prince's School of Traditional Arts, Khaled Azzam, gave welcoming addresses, followed by the presentation of diplomas and a group photograph. The graduating students' work will continue to be exhibited from Aug. 28 till Sept.1 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., at the Fustat Traditional Crafts Centre. General Manager at Art Jameel International Renata Papsch was also in attendance, while Community Jameel, the social enterprise organization that includes Art Jameel among its initiatives, was represented by George Richards, director of strategy development. In line with Art Jameel's focus on preserving cultural heritage, including traditional arts in Egypt, this two-year program develops students' abilities to apply the foundational skills they learn during the program to contemporary design and the restoration of monuments. The program also focuses on securing job opportunities for its students within the fields of art and design, and its more than 55 graduates have gone on to teach at academic institutions, venture into the world of furniture design, and hold successful exhibitions of their artwork.
