Tourist Attractions in Cairo - The El Sawy Culture wheel

El Sawy Culturewheel is a comprehensive cultural center laying on a 5,000 m2 area right under the 15th of May bridge on Zamalek island. It values human beings without any kind of classification. All visitors are treated equally regardless of their social, official and economic status. Likewise artists of the same field are dealt with by equal measures and conditions. Facts : El Sawy Culturewheel operates all year round, seven days a week from 8 am till the last show ends, offering two to four events a day. It provides culture and art at affordable prices. On an average day about 1500 people visit us, on special days the number may exceed 2000. This results in nearly 500000 visitors a year. In 2009,

El Sawy Culturewheel is organizing 25 festivals and contests. The Beginning : In 2003, El Sawy Culturewheel was founded by Engineer Mohamed El Sawy , son of Abdel Monem El Sawy, and in its six years of existence it became a hub and hangout for young Egyptians, foreign residents and visitors, who include our center in their sight-seeing tours. The center’s name was chosen in honor to Abdel Monem El-Sawy .

The name ‘El Sakia’ or ‘The Waterwheel’ derives from his five-part novel series with the same name. Since our center is concerned with culture, the word ‘water’ was replaced by ‘culture’. The main venue in Zamalek has five stages situated in the River Hall, the Wisdom Hall, the Word Hall, the Sakia Garden and the Bostan El Nil. The halls are equipped with cinema screens and all kinds of audiovisual aids. Three more halls are available to accommodate workshops and seminars.

Art Exhibitions : El Sawy Culturewheel is proud to host exhibitions of well-known artists, as well as being a platform for yet unknown students and beginners. Seminars: El Sawy Culturewheel initiates dialogue in different subjects on current and long-lasting topics. We value thinking and the freedom of thought and try to encourage them in our seminars. Awareness Campaign : Every year El Sawy Culturewheel focuses on one main theme. 2009 was chosen to be the ‘year of Dignity’, in which efforts were directed towards four main points: 1. eliminate the profession of begging 2. revive manhood and courage 3. keep cleanliness and 4. work proficiently. Please check our Previous Awareness Campaigns for more information on the past years. Workshops : Next to concerts, art exhibitions, theater plays and seminars, El Sawy Culturewheel also offers a number of workshops teaching the principles of art in all its disciplines on all levels from beginner to advanced. Library : The Zamalek main center also provides a library. Although many people enter El Sawy Culturewheel without noticing it, since it is located behind the gate, our poor library is rich in possessing a wide range of books for children and adults in Arabic, English and French. Everyone may enter, pick and read a book.

El Sawy Culturewheel members can even borrow the books and read them at home. Magazine : After only four years of existence, in 2007 El Sawy Culturewheel launched its quarterly magazine El Sakia el Warakeya - an integrated Culture magazine, written in Standard Arabic, directed towards the youth. El Sakia el Warakeya magazine provides information about all fields of culture and covers news of El Sawy Culturewheel as well as other cultural centers. Radio : In 2009, El Sawy Culturewheel launched its own online radio station "Sound of Sakia". It's mission is to enrich the cultural scene in Egypt by expanding the reach of El Sawy Culturewheel’s stage for local artists, workshops and speakers through high quality cultural online programming to be accessible to a broader audience in Egypt and worldwide

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