Downtown Contemporary Arts Festival D-CAF

The Downtown Contemporary Arts Festival (D-CAF) is Cairo's preeminent international festival dedicated to contemporary arts, held annually since 2012. This festival aims to rejuvenate downtown Cairo by integrating contemporary art into the fabric of Egyptian society, especially in the aftermath of the 2011 revolution. D-CAF offers a diverse lineup that includes alternative theater and dance performances, music concerts, visual art exhibitions, film screenings, art lectures, and workshops featuring emerging artists from around the globe.

D-CAF prides itself on curatorial excellence, fostering collaborations between artists and unique spaces, and producing innovative new works. Despite various political and cultural challenges, the festival has successfully united artists from different countries. Its goal is to make contemporary art accessible to a broad audience while maintaining a high standard of artistic quality.

A standout objective of the festival is to revitalize Downtown Cairo as a cultural epicenter. To achieve this, D-CAF utilizes unconventional venues such as historical buildings, storefronts, and rooftops for its performances and exhibitions. The festival strives to engage audiences, challenge traditional norms, and promote freedom of expression in a politically and socially sensitive climate.

D-CAF's mission is to produce a premier international arts festival in Downtown Cairo, showcasing talent from local, regional, and international artists. The vision is to set a benchmark for arts organizations in Egypt and to help cultivate a vibrant contemporary arts scene.

Looking ahead, D-CAF plans to highlight the latest trends in contemporary arts for its 2016 fifth edition, featuring artists from the Arab world and beyond. The festival will also host the second edition of Arab Arts Focus, aimed at supporting the growth of a sustainable contemporary arts sector in Egypt and the broader Arab region.