Figures from the Italian community in Egypt as well as Egyptian literati, intellectuals, journalists and media figures attended a gala dinner given by Italian Ambassador Antonio Badini and his wife Dunia on the occasion of the participation of Italy as guest of honour at the 39th Cairo International Book Fair. photo: Mohamed Wassim On occasion of Italy's participation as guest of honour at the 39th Cairo International Book Fair, an Italian theatre show was held at Al-Hanager Art Centre. A melodrama titled "Unleash Fire", the performance revolved around war and peace, with lighting techniques playing a major role. In honour of the visit of 10 UK publishing houses to this year's Cairo International Book Fair, the British Council organised a reception to introduce them to their counterparts in Egypt, Enjy El-Naggar reports. The British Council, in collaboration with the Arts Council of Britain and the London Book Fair, is hosting 10 British publishing houses. The visit aims at identifying Egyptian and Arab publishers to discuss aspects of cooperation between the two sides on raising the profile of Arabic literature in Britain and deepening the cultural relations between the United Kingdom and the Arab world. The event boasted the presence of British Ambassador Sir Derek Plumbly, British Council Regional Director for the Near East North Africa Sarah Ewans, and young publishers Andrew Sharp, Bill Swainson, Caroline Dawnay, Catheryn Kilgrrif, Clara Farmer, Dan Nunn, Laura Barber, Mitzi Angel, Rebecca O'Connor and Richard Barlett. A couple of days ago, Minister and Deputy Chief of Mission at the Japanese Embassy Juichi Takahara signed two grant contracts with two NGOs, namely the Instituite of Cultural Affairs and Al-Fatatih Society for Community Development. The first contract was signed by Hala El-Kholy, chairperson of the Instituite of Cultural Affairs in Cairo; it stipulates that the Japanese Embassy extends a grant amounting to US $90,000 to give more than 5,700 students in Manshiet Nasser access to school desks and chairs. The second, signed by Chairperson of Al-Fatatih Society for Community Development in Luxor Abdel-Mo'ez El-Dawy, stipulates the amount of US $34,746 to help more than 1,000 people in the village of Tod by constructing an educational and vocational centre. The Spiros C Moros Foundation celebrates accomplishment with the Cairo Symphony Orchestra, Hadeel Al-Shalchi reports. President of the organization, Tony Moros, and brother of the late founder, Spiros, composed the music heard by the 200 odd members and friends of the organization. Celebrated Egyptian conductor, Nayer Nagui, led the orchestra. Under his experienced hand, the orchestra was able to transport the listener with the music. Mezzo soprano Hanan El-Guindy graced two performances, accompanied with basso-cantabile Mohamed Ahmed in one of them. The Spiros C. Moros Foundation is a charity non-governmental foundation established in Cairo in 2000 by its Spiros C. Moros. Moros 's philosophy was to find holistic ways from nature to heal people and lead healthy lives. After curing himself naturally from melanoma cancer in 1997, he set up the organization to promote breast-feeding, organic farming, and holistic medicine. Moros died in 2002 due to complications from a vaccine. His brother Tony took over the organization. Celebrating the 58th Republic Day of India, the Indian Embassy held a reception at India House. A couple of days later, the Indian Ambassador A. Gopinthan raised the flag at the Indian House. The event was attended by the Minister of Social Solidarity Ali Moselhi, Minister of Tourism Zoheir Garana, Minister of Administrative Development Ahmed Darwish and former Foreign Minister Ahmed Maher. Under the auspices of the Governor of Minya Fouad Saadeddin, and Head of the General Organisation of Cultural Palaces Ahmed Nawwar, the Minya Governorate is orgainsing the Egyptian Child Arts Festival (1-6 February). The festival will feature a number of shows to be performed by Al-Minya Cultural Palace Children's Choir, the Suzanne Mubarak Children's Choir of Kafr Al-Sheikh, Al-Guiza Children's Choir and the Al-Arish Folklore Troupe. A photographic exhibition featuring the Opera's ballet performances, and captured by the lens of Al-Ahram Weekly's very own Sherif Sonbol is currently on display in the Cairo Opera House's Main Hall. The exhibit which is Sonbol's twentieth, will extend until 8 February . The prolific Sonbol has previously had his photographs on display at New York's Lincoln Centre. Commenting on his works, Anna Kisselgoff of the New York Times wrote, "Rare is the photographer who looks at a familiar art form and shows it in a new light. But Sherif Sonbol's stunning and revelatory photographs (show) a particulary agile eye." Sonbol is the first Egyptian photographer to have his pictorial, titled Mulid published by the AUC press. He has had his photos published in several books, the latest of which were Egyptian Palaces by Shirly Johnston and Forty Egyptian Pyramids by Peter Snowdon. In the company of his wife Mary, US Ambassador Francis Ricciardone visited the 39th Cairo International Book Fair, where at the Nahdet Masr booth Mohamed and Dalia Ibrahim -- the two in charge of the publishing house -- gave him a briefing on titles and figures and presented him with some of their latest work, including the new Arabic teens edition of National Geographic. (see Open your mind) Showing great admiration, the ambassador asked for a year's subscription as a gift for his own birthday. Greeting the public, he also distributed free copies among children. Likewise at the Dar Al-Shorouk booth, where Amira Abul-Magd, head of the Children's Books Department, and Ibrahim El-Moallem, the chairman, showed the ambassador, among other work, their new edition of the complete works of Naguib Mahfouz as well as their contribution to the USAID-sponsored National Book Program. There Ricciardone also met with Alaa El-Aswany, author of The Yacoubian Building, an English copy of which he handed to the ambassador, who in turn said that he had heard about El-Aswany 's new novel, Chicago, and was looking forward to the English translation. Ricciardone also had a conversation in Arabic with some children who were present. The ambassador later visited the AUC Press booth, where AUC Press Director Mark Linz and AUC President David Arnold greeted him; he also toured the Naguib Mahfouz exhibition area in the company of Nasser El-Ansary, chairman of the General Egyptian Book Organization. Culture Minister Farouk Hosni and first Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Cultural Relations Anwar Ibrahim will inaugurate Portraits Quartet, a group exhibition held at the Egyptian Centre for International Cultural Cooperation in Zamalek and running till 15 February. It features portrait art by such well- established names as Abdel-Aal Hassan, Samir Fouad, Farid Fadel and Zahran Salama. Poet Gihan Omar published a new collection of poems, Before We Hate Paulo Coelho, with Dar Sharqiat Publishing House in Cairo. Her first collection, Aqdam Khafifa (Light Feet) appeared in 2005.
