In Cairo, the Italian Cultural Institute of the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs promotes and improves awareness of Italian language and culture in Egypt. It organizes wide-ranging cultural events, in collaboration with Egyptian cultural institutions and in synergy with the national economic and industrial system. It responds to requests for information about the Italian culture and the Italian university system. It organizes courses in Italian language and culture and it is in continuous contact with the five Egyptian universities that teach Italian language and culture.
The Italian Cultural Institute of Cairo has the function of coordinating the IICs of the Middle Eastern and Sub-Saharan Area: Damascus, Beirut, Tripoli, Tunis, Algiers, Rabat, Tel Aviv, Haifa, Addis Ababa, Nairobi, Pretoria. This is achieved through the exchange of projects and the organization of shared cultural events.
The Italian Cultural Institute in Cairo offers the following services to the Egyptian public:
• courses in Italian language and culture held by qualified native Italian teachers
• an Italian library available to students and members for consultation and loans
• information and documentation service on culture and university in Italy
• information service on study grants
• information service on university enrolment in Italy.
For concerts, some art exhibitions and the most important events, the Institute works in collaboration with with Egyptian cultural institutions: Ministry of Culture, Ministry of Education and Ministry of Higher Education, Supreme Council of Antiquities, Supreme Council of Culture, Opera of Cairo and Alexandria, Alexandrian Library, Egyptian Museum of Cairo, Museum of Fine Arts of Alexandria, Mohammed Mahmud Khalil Museum, “Akhenaton” Arts Centre, Palace of Arts, General Egyptian Book Organization, University.
The main festivals and events in which the Institute usually actively and regularly participates include: Cairo and Alexandria International Film Festivals, Experimental Theatre Festival, Contemporary Dance Festival, Cairo and Alexandria Art Bienniale, Bienniale for Ceramics, Trienniale of Graphic Arts, Cairo International Book Fair, Cairo and Alexandria International Children’s Book Fair.
The Institute also participates with other member countries in cultural events organized by the Delegation of the European Union in Cairo.
Italian Archaeological Centre – IIC Cairo
The Centre’s primary aims are to support all research projects and archaeological expeditions by Italian scholars in Egypt and improve awareness of the Italian Egyptology, both through the continuous publication of archaeological investigations and research and through the organization of conferences and exhibitions on their results.
