Egypt’s culture min. inspects Museum of Modern Art on Aug. 10

CAIRO – 10 August 2020: Egypt’s Minister of Culture Inas Abdel-Dayem embarked on an inspection tour at the Museum of Modern Art at the Opera House on Aug. 10, to follow up the progress of the museum's development process. The minister was accompanied by Head of the Fine Arts Sector Khaled Sorour.

This comes within the framework of the state’s serious endeavor to bring back the stalled international events, which would confirm Egypt's cultural role and leadership.

The last event hosted by the museum was the inauguration of the 13th edition of Cairo International Art Biennale in June 2019. The Museum of Modern Art had been closed for 10 years, and had been worked on extensively to host the Cairo Biennale, which constituted a huge challenge, especially that the development came in record time.

In 1927, Muhammad Mahmoud Khalil suggested establishing a museum that would include the works of art, which from his point of view were treasures. Although he is not an artist, he is considered one of the most influential figures in modern Egyptian art.

In 1936, the museum moved to Al-Bustan Street in Tahrir Square, and then it was moved to Palace of Count Zgheib - Qasr El Nil Street - Tahrir Square. In 1966, as a result of the demolition of the former museum building, its holdings moved to a Ismail Pasha Abul-Fotouh's Villa located in Dokki's Fany Square, Giza.

In 1983, Saray 3 was allocated to the Opera House (which was then the fairground in Cairo before moving to the suburb of Nasr City) to be the headquarters of the new museum; the Saray was established in the Islamic style.