Ashraf Zaki appointed as head of Academy of Arts

CAIRO - 5 December 2019: According to informed sources in the Ministry of Culture, it was decided to appoint Ashraf Zaki as head of the Academy of Arts.

Zaki has been the temporary head of the Academy of Arts since 2018, succeeding Ahlam Younis, who reached the legal age of retirement.

Zaki graduated from the Faculty of Commerce, Cairo University, Department of Business Administration in 1983. Zaki then joined the Higher Institute of Dramatic Arts and received a bachelor's degree with excellence. He received his PhD in theater directing from the Academy of Arts (First Class Honors) in 2002.

Moreover, Zaki was appointed as an assistant professor at the Higher Institute of Dramatic Arts, as head of the Theater Art House, as head of Theatrical Professions Syndicate, head of Cultural Production Affairs Sector, and president of the Arab Artists Union, in addition to a few other positions.

Zaki won the State Encouragement Award in Theater Direction in 2001 in addition to the 2009 State Award for Excellence in Arts.

The veteran actor and director also published two books titled: “Role of the Director in Establishing the Experimentation Movement in the Egyptian theater”, and “Contemporary Directing Vision of Heritage”.

He has many important works of art in the field of cinema, theater, radio and television that positively affected the Egyptian and Arab artistic memory.