Founder of Studio 206 discusses art's contribution to community Noha Sayed Al Ahl is on a mission. Some might consider it "mission impossible, but that is because they lack Sayed Al Ahl's determination and possibly even her vision. Studio 206 is a non-profit organization in Maadi with the seemingly simple agenda of offering arts and crafts lessons. But Sayed Al Ahl's undertaking extends far beyond that scope. She is using art as a channel for individual as well as social development. The daughter of an artist, Sayed Al Ahl explained that art had always been a part of her life. "But I never thought it could be a career, she added ironically. Dressed in a conservative black, pinstripe suit, with her hair pulled back in a tight bun, the thirty-something Sayed Al Ahl fit the image of a successful businesswoman. Her ethnic jewelry and handcrafted bag were the only clues to her artistic side. With a Masters in Economics from Boston University in the US, she has a pragmatic mind that complements her creative disposition. While studying art at the Academie Grandes Terres in France, Sayed Al Ahl developed the concept of using art to further social development. "I had a feeling [while in France] that everything around me was beautiful, she explained. "Art is essentially someone expressing themselves. With that wide definition, alongside the more conventional arts and crafts, the studio also offers lectures and discussions related to culture, religion and spirituality. They include workshops on culinary art as well as martial arts. There's something for everyone. She felt that in Egypt art was absent from most people's lives, and Sayed Al Ahl wanted to bridge that gap. For the 1,000 students that have taken part in the center's workshops since its opening in 2002, art has been introduced to their lives. But, according to Sayed Al Ahl, the impact is greater than that. She refers to it as the "trickledown effect . Take the example of handcrafts in Egypt, which Sayed Al Ahl describes as "static . Studio 206 has had a hand in developing that industry. A shop owner participates in a workshop, and learns something new about interior design, which is then appreciated by his patrons. Or someone wants to start a candle-making business, and learns the craft at the center, and shares it with his customers. "Basically, we're educating. Then education has its own dynamic after that, Sayed Al Ahl stated in her matter-of-fact manner. Clearly, Studio 206 is more than just a business to Sayed Al Ahl. "I don't want to make money out of it, she pointed out. Of course, becoming self-sustainable and being profitable enough to continue are important. But the studio is considered a means to an end. For those who don't have time to take a course, they can pass through the studio's art gallery. The gallery's schedule is full for the near future by artists who have approached Studio 206. "It's because we're in between a commercial and a public sector gallery, Sayed Al Ahl said. The private commercial galleries, she goes on to explain, want the big name artists because they want to bring in the money. The public galleries, on the other hand, request a fee from the artists. So Studio 206 offers artists an alternative way to display and sell their work. Studio 206 is also about creating a sense of community. The yellow villa is inviting and down-to-earth. Sayed Al Ahl welcomes anyone to come and spend the day in the walled garden at the back. She's even considering setting up a booth to serve coffee. (Unfortunately, the neighboring building has just been demolished so it's not as peaceful as she had hoped it would be.) "It turned out to be a family affair, Sayed Al Ahl said. The center is also a bridge to the outside community. Sayed Al Ahl works with orphans between the ages of 16 and 18 who are trying to integrate into society. The studio holds movie screenings and drama workshops with the intention of forging a trusting relationship with the orphans. "Most people don't want to deal with them [the orphans] because they're no longer cute, Sayed Al Ahl speculated. Many of the orphans are looking for jobs, getting married, or just need someone to talk to, she explained. Having been raised in the sheltered environment of the orphanage, they are often isolated from the community at large. Members of the Studio 206 team try to get to know them informally so that they feel they have someone to turn to. Sayed Al Ahl has plans for "vertical and "horizontal expansion, terms she must have picked up while studying economics. Horizontally, she's planning to take her workshops and seminars to different venues across Egypt. Vertically, she would like to become more involved with art education, hopefully take part in creating an official program at public schools. While Studio 206 already hosts field trips for private schools, Sayed Al Ahl doesn't consider them her "target audience. "[Public school] kids need to have some mode of expressing themselves and developing their creative abilities, she stated. For Sayed Al Ahl, the studio's activities are merely a starting point. Her unusual blend of grounded passion will ensure Studio 206's longstanding success and will make a significant contribution to the community and society in general. Her efforts may not bring art into every Egyptian's life, but it is definitely a leap in the right direction. Studio 20614 Road 200, Maadi, CairoTel: (02) 519 5713Open daily from 10 am-2 pm and 6 pm-10 pm (closed Thursdays and Fridays)
