By Shaimaa Mehdi

Translated by Aisha El-Awady

“For 7 years now, we have supported knowledge and culture; all the time recognizing that every human achievement that transcends to become an art or an expression is a victory of the four virtues: truth, justice, goodness, and beauty.”

These were the words of Mohammad El-Sawy, the founder of El-Sawy Culture Wheel, in commemoration of 7 years of success of the cultural center. This triumph of El-Sawy Culture Wheel did not come easy.

Each year, the center presents new concerts, exhibitions and seminars, and hosts artists, innovators and thinkers in various fields. It also arranges festivals, competitions and awareness campaigns which are launched from time to time. Seven years of hard work and the Culture Wheel continues to turn, providing the community with knowledge and culture.

“The Culture Wheel has become an equivalent to the Ministry of Culture,” said Loius Grace, a journalist. “I’m not saying this in spite of the Ministry of Culture, but what the Culture Wheel presents differs from what is presented by the Ministry, and it meets the cultural needs of not only Egyptian but also Arab and foreign young people,” he said.

“This need has not been met by the Ministry of Culture’s institutions and palaces that are scattered throughout the cities, villages and hamlets of Egypt.”

He went on to say that it was a brilliant choice to pick this particular location under the bridge, a former garbage dump and breeding site for beggars and criminals. He also opined that it would be better for others to look for a new venture rather than to replicate El-Sawy’s experience.

Manar Mahmoud, a 19 year old who often visits the Culture Wheel, says it is a very nice and remarkable place, although, she was initially surprised at the location, as it lies under a bridge. But she says her surprise turned into awe when she learned it used to be a garbage dump. She added that the center helped her learn many styles of painting through the Fine Arts courses it holds.

When roaming the halls and library of the Culture Wheel, one encounters people of all ages, including children and retirees. They all come here knowing that the center will satisfy a hobby or interest of theirs. The moderate cultural atmosphere at the center not only brings together different generations but also different religions, in a setting whose slogan could be “religion for God and culture for all”.

This could be clearly seen on this day as I watched Insaf Abd Al-Maqsood, a retiree, and her husband sitting in the El-Sawy garden with their friend Hani Louis whom they got to know through the Culture Wheel. They sat there chatting in this nice, healthy, comforting environment which Abd Al-Maqsood described as “an excellent place where no one bothers anyone else and most importantly where smoking is not allowed, which is fantastic.”

She added that the Culture Wheel is a place where young people can mingle in the presence of a chaperone which protects them from engaging in any immoral behaviors and allows them to make new friends and exchange experiences.

Her husband, Saeed Imam, joined in by saying that the activities at the Culture Wheel meet the different tastes and desires of people. Also, there are events all year round unlike the Ministry of Culture’s events which are seasonal, like for instance, the Cairo International Book Fair.

“Here, we were able to find what we couldn’t find at all at the Ministry of Culture,” said Louis, referring to the attention El-Sawy gives to the Arabic language and to courses in the different arts. He also says the management is very open to suggestions and that despite the fact that he lives in Ain Shams, the “enjoyment is well worth the transportation troubles.”

Ahmed Nawar, a fine artist and former President of the General Authority of Cultural Palaces, said that the success of a civilian institution such as El-Sawy Culture Wheel is due to several factors. These include the fact that the founder of the Culture Wheel is an intellectual, highly aware of the importance of culture, that has a strong conviction that civil institutions play a role in educating the public.

“Culture is a river that must flow continuously without interruption, just like water and air,” said Nawar. This is something El-Sawy Culture Wheel has been successful at.

When asked about funding, he said that the mutual trust between the center and businessmen has been a major factor in drawing in interested sponsors, whereas, governmental institutions do not have the benefit of such trust and therefore of such funding.

On the role of civil institutions and private enterprises in supporting the cultural movement, Nawar explained that no government in the world can accomplish, on its own, the cultural maturity of a community as a whole. He stressed the need for businessmen and investment and banking companies to step up to the plate and begin supporting cultural development, since the current number of cultural institutes and events is nowhere near sufficient for a population of 80,000,000 people.

Given that El-Sawi succeeded in that which the Ministry of Culture failed, will this be the drive for other civil institutions to follow suit?