Spend the Day in Khalifa: 11th Edition

This year, familiar spaces serve as mediators of connections & conversations, becoming boundless, nurturing communities and melding venues, their histories & the people they bring together – Now in its 11th edition, Spend the Day in Khalifa centres around the interconnectedness between space, place, and people. For three days across two weekends, SDK 11’ will be hosted at al-Khalifa Park & al-Khalifa Community Centre. With an open invitation for everyone to participate, we witness how these spaces come alive as individuals and groups of different backgrounds gather, interact & create shared experiences.

All events are free of charge but require pre-registration.

Event Schedule:
Day One | Tales and Riddles at al-Khalifa Park
Date: Friday 22nd of March
Venue: Al-Khalifa Park
In collaboration with the Arab Origami Center (AOC), Makouk & Marah Publishing House:
Experience a night full of board games, puzzles, colouring, crafting, origami, and an arcade game demo by Ahmed Saqfalhait and his team, which was developed with the children of al-Khalifa community in 2022 & 2023. The activities will culminate with a live performance, “Tales of the Origamist” by AOC.
A bazaar will run offering children’s books & games.

Day Two | Urban Tapestry: On Arts and Public Space
Date: Saturday 23rd of March
Venue: Khalifa Community Centre and al-Khalifa Park.
A conversation on arts, public space, and the question of ephemerality & accessibility led by Yasmine El Dorghamy,  Founder of Rawi Publishing for Egyptian History, Heritage & Art, at the Khalifa Community Centre. She is joined by panellists:
Ahmed El-Attar, founder and general manager of Orient Productions & D-CAF.
Reem Ayman, architect at CLUSTER.
Amr Abu Tawila, architect & cultural heritage programme manager at ARCHiNOS Architecture.
Heba El-Cheikh, art manager & creative producer.
Reem Ayman, architect at CLUSTER.
After the discussion, attendees can view Patterns of Cairo’s exhibition at al-Khalifa Park.
The day will conclude with a live performance by Nancy Mounir at the Khalifa Community Centre.

Day Three | Nurturing Togetherness: Through Community Kitchens
Date: Friday 29th of March
Venue: Khalifa Community Centre
On food, heritage & community, Mennat Allah El-Dorry, food archaeologist at the AUC & Ain Shams University, & Yasmine El Dorghamy, Founder of Rawi Publishing for Egyptian history, Heritage & Art, will lead a panel discussion in conversation with:
Abdullah Tawfiq, co-founder of Urban Greens Egypt.
Hadeer Ahmed, program manager at Nawaya.
Hossam Gad, anthropological history researcher at Megawra.
Mai Amer, project manager at Dawar Kitchen.
Maissara Abd Allah Hussein, deputy director for antiquities at the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization (NMEC).
Mohamed Hany, CEO * co-founder of Zest.
The day will culminate in a Suhoor with Nawaya & Baladini, inviting attendees to make their own pizza with handmade cheese & fresh herbs from al-Khalifa Park.

This event is implemented by Athar Lina Initiative, run by Megawra | Built Environment Collective, with funding from the British Council, Drosos Foundation, the Embassy of the Kingdom of Netherlands in Egypt & US Forest.
Many thanks to Rawi | Egypt’s Heritage Review our cultural partner.

All events are free of charge but require pre-registration.
Sign up: https://forms.gle/UUVefjMFjTMc7rcPA