AUC Launches Artozium, a Three-week Public Arts Festival at Its New Cairo Campus

The American University in Cairo (AUC) announced the launch of Artozium, its first public arts festival on its New Cairo campus, from June 10 to July 1, offering free concerts, theatrical performances, film screenings, art workshops and exhibitions. The festival includes collaborations with some of Cairo's most recognized cultural institutions and artists. With programming spanning three weeks and covering a wide range of artistic disciplines, Artozium represents a major initiative by the University to turn its New Cairo campus into a hub for public cultural life. 

With Cairo’s arts scene historically centered downtown, Artozium seeks to bring cultural programming closer to the growing communities east of the Nile. By transforming AUC’s New Cairo campus into a vibrant gathering place for the arts, the festival aims to foster an emerging cultural scene that extends beyond New Cairo to the New Capital and Al Shorouk.

“Artozium serves not only New Cairo but also the New Capital and Al Shorouk,” explained Wael El Mahallawy, music professor, chair of the Department of the Arts and general manager of Artozium. “There are very few theaters, exhibition venues or galleries in this area, so the festival should attract a lot of people since they would have to travel downtown to watch these activities.”

The festival’s name combines “art” and “symposium,” with the letter “z’” emphasizing the festival’s focus on developing Gen Z artists and creatives. “Our target is mainly Gen-Z, plus all the different ages,” said El Mahallawy. “We merged the five programs in our department — graphic design, visual art, film, music and theatre — into one big project.” 

Beyond attending performances and exhibitions, attendees can also experiment and enhance their creative talents through art workshops on ceramics, filmmaking and puppetry, taught by AUC faculty and professionals in the field. 

In addition, Artozium brings together an extensive lineup of collaborations with established names in Cairo's cultural scene. It will screen film shorts presented at the renowned Zawya Cinema, and will also include screenings from the Manassat Film Festival. The festival’s music lineup includes the Cairo Arab Choir and the all-women Egyptian percussion ensemble Tablet El-Sett. Audiences will also enjoy performances by the Reda Folklore Dance Troupe, one of Egypt’s most storied folk dance companies. 

The festival will also feature an interactive stand-up comedy show by actor Tarek El Ebiary ’12 and acclaimed percussionist Mostafa Abbas. Additionally, Artozium will display the exhibition, A Title Resembling an Unstable Image Exhibition. Curated by artist Ahmed Shawky Hassan, the installation showcases the work of emerging artists in various mediums who explore cities as a constantly reshaping living structure. 

A significant portion of Artozium's programming celebrates the creative work produced within AUC's own academic community, including Mashrou' 26,  an exhibition dedicated to the graphic design work of the University's class of 2026 - the 12th and largest graduating class in that program. Alumni will perform in the plays Gat Salima and El Masyada, with Hekaya Bel Maqloub featuring current undergraduate students, and the Theatre Association will perform a showing of Neseet El Cheque. Student organizations Musicana and AUC’s Folklore Troupe will also conduct performances.