Alexandria Contemporary Arts Forum

Alexandria Contemporary Arts Forum (ACAF) was founded in response to the pressing need for a serious and critical contemporary art initiative in Egypt's second-largest city. For years, Alexandria has been hindered by a centralizing mentality that dominates many sectors of Egyptian society. By early 2005, ACAF's founders recognized that Cairo’s art scene had become somewhat established, reaching a point where further structural development seemed unlikely for some time. Cairo, as the heart of this centralized system, had seemingly reached a temporary peak, fostering an environment where a counter-circle of independent artists and art professionals began to emerge and achieve varying levels of success both locally and internationally.