Organised by the American University in Cairo Press near the principal site of the revolution, the Tahrir Book Fair drew thousands of visitors to the wares of over 100 local and foreign exhibitors. Upon popular demand, the event that was inaugurated by Minister of Culture Emad Abu Ghazi together with the AUC Press's Mark Linz and Nabila Aql at the AUC Press, was extended to 4 April. "Because of the success and interest in this first Tahrir Book Fair, the AUC Press will now hold this event twice a year," said Linz. The next Tahrir Book Fair will be held in early December 2011 also on the AUC Downtown Campus. The fair offered new publications and bestsellers as well as special discounts and bargains. It featured book signings and open discussions with Egyptian authors including Galal Amin, Samia Mehrez, Hamdi Abu Golayel, Ahmed Sedki, Hala El-Badri, Bahaa Abdel-Meguid, Heba Handoussa, many moderated by Hoda Wasfi, on the future of literature and culture after Egypt's revolution. Live music included popular Egyptian bands like Wust Al-Balad, sponsored by El Sawy Culturewheel, and Massar Egbari. A lively reading and workshop for children were also included in the programme. In the first ministerial level contact between India and Egypt since the 25 January events, the Indian Minister of State for External Affairs E Ahamed paid a two-day visit to Cairo and met with the Egyptian Prime Minister Essam Sharaf, the Deputy Prime Minister Yehia El-Gamal and the Secretary-General of the Arab League Amr Moussa. During the meetings, Ahamed conveyed to Sharaf and El - Gamal India's continued support to Egypt during its historic transition process. India looks forward to further strengthening its relationship with Egypt, he insisted. Ahamed also had in-depth discussions with the Egyptian Foreign Minister Nabil El-Arabi with a view not only to strengthening and deepening the bilateral relations but also enhancing coordination on international issues. The next round of political consultations between the two countries will take place in May 2011 in New Delhi. A visit to India by the El-Arabi is also being planned. A delegation led by the election commissioner of India is also expected to visit Egypt to explore possibilities for cooperation in the electoral field, including the use of electronic voting machines. During the visit, Ahamed also called on the Grand Sheikh of Al-Azhar Ahmed El-Tayeb inviting him to visit India. The minister also met the Mufti Ali Gomaa and the Minister of Trade and Industry Samir Youssef Ali El-Sayed as well as Mohamed El-Baradei. The Pharaonic Village held a ceremony to celebrate Orphans Day with participation from a large number of orphans' associations. Orphans were invited to spend the day in the company of actors Athar El-Hakim, Amr Ramzi, Basma Galal and singer Hani El-Masri and the Chairman of the Pharaonic Village Abdel-Salam Ragab. Shashati magazine held a gigantic ceremony to honour the mothers of those who were killed in the course of the 25 January Revolution in the presence of numerous media figures and celebrities including Wael El-Ebrashi, Mona Nashaat, Mohamed Riyad, Tayseer Fahmi, Rania Mahmoud Yassin, Wafaa Mekki and Hamada Hilal. photos: Abdel-Hamid Eid The Stars Cinema saw the private screening of the newly released blockbuster E U C. The film is a comedy starring Amr Abed, Karim Qassem and Lotfi Labib, written by Omar Gamal and directed by Akram Farid. At El Sawy Culturewheel in Zamalek, a photography exhibition entitled "Egypt's Revolution" was opened by founder of the photographers department at the Press Syndicate Amr Nabil in the presence of the Arab League Secretary-General Amr Moussa. The exhibition is dedicated to photographer Ahmed Saadawi who lost his sight during the revolution. photos: Ayman Barayez The Diwan Bookstore in Zamalek witnessed the signing of the newly published Ya Halawet Al-Moulid (Oh, Sweet Moulid!) by writer Hanan Moufid Fawzi in the presence of media figures and celebrities including the writer's father Moufid Fawzi, veteran actress Nelly, actors Hani Salama and Hassan El-Raddad, TV presenter Maha Othman, media figure Moetaz El-Demerdash and director Omar Zahran. The Ayyam Gallery announced the Shabab Ayyam Photography Competition, an unprecedented initiative to provide support for fresh talent in the Middle East. As a continuation of its groundbreaking Shabab Ayyam Project, an incubator programme that catapulted the careers of nearly a dozen young painters since 2007, the Shabab Ayyam Photography Competition will serve as a platform for aspiring artists who demonstrate professional promise. Open to Arab photographers who are based in the region and were born in or after 1980, this juried competition will culminate in a group exhibition of the work of 15 finalists at the Ayyam Art Centre in Dubai in 13-20 September. The panel of judges that will select featured artists will include experts in the field. All finalists will be invited to Dubai for the opening of the exhibition, to be followed by the announcement of three top contestants on 15 September. The first place winner will be awarded $6,500, while $2,500 and $1,000 prizes will be given to second and third place finalists, respectively. Since its founding in 2006, the Ayyam Gallery has become one of the Middle East's leading contemporary art spaces. With a selection of cutting-edge paintings, sculptures and photography representing some of the Arab world's most exciting talent, the gallery has sought to promote the region's dynamic cultural scene at home and abroad. Proposals will be accepted until 30 June via a dedicated photo competition e-mail [email protected] or in person to any Ayyam Gallery branch. Finalists will be announced on 30 July. For more information visit www.ayyamgallery.com. photo: Sherif Sonbol At the Cairo Opera House Main Hall, the Egyptian-German maestro Adel Shalabi, professor of percussion at Munich University, gave a mesmerising concert that featured flautist Inas Abdel-Dayeim. Titled, "Between Orient & Occident", the concert was attended by German Ambassador to Egypt Michael Bock.
