Scope of Work
Cultural Resource (Al Mawred Al Thaqafy) works in film, music, theatre, dance, visual arts and literature.  It also encourages artistic experiments that attempt to cross over artistic fields.
Cultural Resource (Al Mawred Al Thaqafy) works in three main areas:

Production, Distribution and Training:

Al Mawred aims at expanding opportunities for independent cultural production with an emphasis on work produced by young people.   This is achieved by offering production awards through an open application process.  The awards are complimented with administrative and marketing services that are available to projects funded by Al Mawred Al Thaqafy as well as to other small independent projects.

In addition, Al Mawred seeks to introduce and showcase works produced by young and new creators in the Arab region and other regions of the developing world.  These works are presented in a central space in Cairo in regular events that bring together artists, critics and audiences.  Some works are toured within the region and outside.

The organization also offers training programs that are tailored to address common needs of young artists and writers and new cultural groups, such as arts management training programs.

Strengthening the Economic Base for Independent Cultural Work:

Al Mawred Al Thaqafy attaches particular importance to engaging international donors, whether private or governmental, in conversations that result in giving more attention to the independent cultural sector in the region.  Al Mawred Al Thaqafy also seeks to explore possibilities of building long-term partnerships with the corporate sector in the region.   Establishing and improving contact with the mass media is also an important strategy to advocate for independent cultural work.

In addition to seeking diverse sources of funding for its core activities and award programs, Al Mawred Al Thaqafy also offers advice and technical assistance to small cultural groups on fundraising and marketing.

The establishment of an independent fund for Arab arts is a long-term goal that requires a process of open discussion and advocacy among potential beneficiaries as well as donors.  This process will be initiated by Al Mawred Al Thaqafy organizing a wide discussion of this idea, involving representatives of all independent groups in the region.

Dialogue:

Culture Resource (Al Mawred Al Thaqafy) organizes discussions and seminars on important artistic and cultural issues and their political and social contexts in the region.  The dialogue agenda is designed to respond to the region''s cultural priorities and with a focus on improving its interface with other regions, especially such regions as sub-Saharan Africa that have similar economic, political and social conditions.  Al Mawred Al Thaqafy also works to open new channels for dialogue and collaboration between young artists and writers from the region and their peers in other parts of the developing world.

Activities
Production, Distribution and Training:
Culture Resource (Al Mawred Al Thaqafy) offers production awards to young artists and writers. These are offered through an open application process once a year for the first two years followed by an evaluation of results and looking into the possibility of doubling the number of awards.

Culture Resource (Al Mawred Al Thaqafy) offers advice and technical assistance to small cultural projects on management, production and marketing.

Culture Resource (Al Mawred Al Thaqafy) funds and organizes a limited number of artistic tours within the region and the developing world.

Culture Resource (Al Mawred Al Thaqafy) organizes training programs that address common needs of young artists and writers and independent cultural groups such as arts management training.

The Cultural Centre:
Culture Resource’s cultural centre in Cairo, which comprises an administrative office and an equipped theatre, El Genaina Theatre in Al Azhar Park, is the main outlet for presenting works that are funded or supported by Culture Resource (Al Mawred Al Thaqafy). The existence of a reasonably equipped centre helps in professionally presenting new artists and promoting their work within the region and beyond.

Throughout the year the centre presents a limited number of works from the region that represent important artistic marks in all fields. This program is designed and managed directly by Culture Resource’s staff.

El Genaina Theatre is available to all creative work produced outside the official and commercial contexts, in return for basic operation costs or a portion of these costs.

The basic principal applied in all platforms is to provide an open physical and moral space for Arab creators and their peers in developing countries. The format is a creative workshop that ends with a public presentation.

The platforms are organized in close collaboration with specialized cultural groups from the region. Culture Resource’s artistic board selects these groups annually and provides the basic funding for the platforms. Culture Resource (Al Mawred Al Thaqafy) also hosts the platforms and helps with their administration, while the organizing group selects the works, liaises with artists and produces the final program.

Culture Resource’s artistic board develops the general guidelines for the platforms annually. These include duration, dates, and geographic and thematic focus for each platform.