In love of sculpture The activities of the 13th Aswan International Sculpture Symposium (21 January-10 March) are underway. Fifteen Egyptian and foreign artists have come together to bring their own unique cultural backgrounds and visions to sculpture Aswan's stately stones into distinguished masterpieces. Among these names are the German Martin Topaz and the Egyptian Georges Bahgory. Under the auspices of Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, crown prince of Abu Dhabi, and on the occasion of choosing the Emirates as the guest of honour at the 40th Cairo International Book Fair (CIBF), Al-Shorouk Publishing House, presided over by Ibrahim El-Moallim, held a dinner party. The event also marked the launching of Kalema (Word) project for the first time, which aims at reviving the translation movement in the Arab world. The celebration was honoured by the presence of head of Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage Gomaa Al-Qobesei and the executive director of the project Karim Nagui, who announced the project's objectives and plans to activate the translation of international works into Arabic in the years to come. A host of high-profile figures in the fields of media, literature and art were present such as Emirates Ambassador Ahmed Ali Al-Zoabi, Lebanese Ambassador Khaled Ziyada, head of the Syrian Publishers Union Mohamed Salem, head of the Lebanese Publishers Union Mohamed Irani, head of the Book General Authority Nasser El-Ansari, head of the People's Assembly Foreign Relations Committee Mustafa El-Feki, intellectual Abdel-Wahab Elmessiri, novelists Bahaa Taher, Ibrahim Aslan, Ibrahim Abdel-Meguid, Khairi Shalabi and script writer Mahfouz Abdel-Rahman. Media figures Wael El-Ibrashi, Sanaa Mansour, Belal Fadl and gorgeous actress Mervat Amin were also present. The party was enlivened by the brilliant performance of Nesma Abdel-Aziz on the marimba. To celebrate the launch of Australia Week 2008, Australian Ambassador Robert Bowker and his wife held a reception party at their residence in Zamalek. The party was privileged by the presence of former foreign minister, Ahmed Maher, Manal Rezkallah, from the US Embassy media office, the Italian Embassy's first secretary, Maria Laroccia, Chief- Editor of Al-Ahram Democracy magazine Hala Mustafa, as well as a number of diplomats. Guests enjoyed the performance of the Freshwater troupe. To promote cultural and literary exchange between the United States and Egypt, the "Big Read" project was launched at the 40th CIBF. The "Big Read" is a US global cultural initiative that aims at creating a forum for citizens of Egypt and the United States to learn about the cultural history, traditions, and lifestyles of the other by reading and discussing selected works of literature that represent, reflect and comment upon each country's culture. Egypt is the first country in the Middle East to participate in the "Big Read" and Egyptian organisations will focus on reading and discussing the American classic The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck. US partner communities will read the Egyptian classic The Thief and the Dogs by Naguib Mahfouz, who will join Leo Tolstoy as the only non-American author included in the "Big Read" in the United States. At Al-Shorouk Publishing House Booth the announcement took place in the presence of US Charge d'Affaires Stuart Jones, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Educational and Cultural Affairs Alina Romanowski, who introduced the National Endowment for the Arts Chairman Dana Gioia. "It is a great pleasure to be here surrounded by books in one of the largest book festivals in the world. And we are excited about bringing Naguib Mahfouz's work to the United States, which will be read in cities as large as New York and fairly rural like Huntsville, Alabama," Gioia said. Head of the Garden City Lions Club Awatef Serageddin organised a seminar at the Cairo Capital Club (CCC) introducing Chairman of the Press Syndicate Makram Mohamed Ahmed, who tackled the ongoing action in Gaza and the role played by Egypt to face this dilemma. He also addressed journalists, stressing on the importance of keeping up with modern technology in obtaining information. The seminar was attended by former prime minister, Ali Lotfi, MP Hesham Khalil, Al-Ahram writer Mona Ragab, former governor of South Sinai Mustafa Afifi, as well as Lions Club members Bahiya Youssef, Samiha Hamed and Azza Nardini. photos: Ayman Barayez At Ghazi Zein Awadallah 's cultural salon held at the Four Seasons Nile Plaza Hotel, a number of Egyptian public figures were honoured, including Minister of Manpower Aisha Abdel-Hadi, former secretary-general of the Arab League Essmat Abdel-Meguid, educational expert Nawal El-Degwi, actresses Wafaa Amer and Poussi, actor Hassan Youssef and late veteran actor Adel Adham.
