Culture Resource (Al Mawred Al Thaqafy) functions in collaboration with an informal network of independent artistic groups that exist on the ground in a number of Arab countries.  It seeks to involve these groups in all its activities and programs and to act as a catalyst, stimulating the development and evolution of these groups and of collaborative relations among them.   Many of Al Mawred’s activities are informed by successful models on the ground such as the open creative platforms provided by the Cultural Co-operative for Youth in Theatre and Cinema (SHAMS) in Lebanon, the production grants offered by the Young Arab Theatre Fund, Belgium, and SEMAT Independent Filmmakers for Production and Distribution, Egypt; and the multi-purpose venue run by the Townhouse Gallery in Egypt.  These models, as well as other independent cultural organizations in other parts of the region, inspire the work of Al Mawred as well as benefit from the regional and international scope it provides.  This collaborative approach ensures wider participation in the activities of Al Mawred Al Thaqafy as well as addressing the needs of the majority of independent artists and writers in the region.   Such a participatory approach is also necessary for starting the dialogue on establishing an independent fund for arts in the region.  Culture Resource (Al Mawred Al Thaqafy) continually seeks to expand its constituency of groups and organizations to cover different artistic and literary fields and to include all active cultural locations in the region.

A regional artistic board of arts managers, producers, artists, educators and cultural activists – under the guidance and supervision of the general assembly – is responsible for activating Culture Resource (Al Mawred Al Thaqafy) through an artistic and administrative base in Cairo.  This base functions as a regional cultural center that offers its space and facilities to new creative work and functions as a window for cultural works from the region and other parts of the developing world.

Culture Resource (Al Mawred Al Thaqafy) adopts a general policy of giving priority to addressing the basic practical needs of creative people, then exploring new horizons of joint work within the region and outside.