The Hilm Elnoor (A dream of light) arts initiative was launched last week in the Ewart Memorial Hall at the American University in Cairo. The inauguration ceremony included the Cairo Celebration Choir, led by Nayer Nagui, with performances by singers Rehab Metawi, Dina Iskander and Jolie Faizy. Also taking part were the poets Amin and Ahmed Haddad and the NUT Contemporary Dance Company directed by Eslam Emam. The initiative is under the umbrella of the Middle East Foundation for Research and Development (MEFRD) and aims to train talented youth “to become leading artists capable of using art as a force of change in their communities, changing the misconception of art as a form of entertainment and a moral stigma.” The programme is open to young people between the ages of 18 and 25. Essam Fayez is the managing director of MEFRD's art and culture sector and the founder of Hilm Elnoor. He says that what differentiates the initiative from others is that it links art with sustainable development. The artist can inspire people and encourage positivity in others through art, he said. This inspiration need not be political. Instead, it could mean helping children to have better lives and to develop themselves. The group aims to empower young people by “providing them with professional training, a tool kit of critical thinking and the necessary personal skills to enhance their ability of self-expression through a series of professional workshops and training camps.” The country's current difficult conditions served as the inspiration for Hilm Elnoor. “We felt art would give people the chance to express themselves and give them light and hope,” Fayez recalls. “I am personally convinced that we don't have to rush if we want to do something effective,” he says. The idea was begun in 2012, and the official launch was in 2014. The team started with seven volunteers and has now expanded to 30. Fayez said that at first they had only an idea and no funds. But when he suggested the initiative to MEFRD the board of trustees decided to donate 25 per cent of Hilm Elnoor's project costs, leaving the team to find the rest. One source of funding is through the sale of products bearing the initiative's logo, which were being sold at the AUC event. Fayez also said that some artists donated their work and some organisations offered the use of their facilities at no cost. “But it's not about money,” he said. “It's about the impact.”
