Graduation in Cairo: Bab Rizk Jameel Programme for traditional arts and crafts

In June 2012, a group of students graduated from the Bab Rizk Jameel Diploma Programme in Cairo. This is the second group to graduate from the programme. Their work is making a valuable contribution to the the revival of traditional arts and crafts of Egypt and the region.Presentation of art and craft work from the students

Background

In October 2010, a group of 20 students joined Bab Rizk Jameel Programme for traditional arts and crafts. Some were working in different sectors of the Egyptian ministry of Culture, while others were graduates and students of faculties of law, commerce and business administration. All of them had a passion and interest in traditional arts. Classes in geometry, Nabati drawing, observational drawing and color studies were conducted in the programme's classrooms and in the monuments and museums of Cairo. These classes ran parallel to crafts training, where in the first year the students were introduced to ceramics, gypsum and glass, marquetry and brass piercing.By the beginning of the second year, the students were split into different specialization groups, the majority chose to specialize in ceramics (6 students), three students specialized in gypsum and glass and only two chose marquetry. Unfortunately throughout the two years some students left the diploma course, due to a number of personal reasons. By February 2012 the students started working on their graduation projects using the practical skills and the drawing instruction they received from both the local staff and the Prince's School's tutors. The design phase was challenging for most of them, as almost everyone was trying to present a number of patterns and techniques. As a result, the programme's staff had to guide the students sensitively to achieve well balanced projects that express their talents and understanding of traditional arts. The marquetry students decorated doors and marquetry panels (that could be used as table tops), the gypsum and glass students produced a number of different items, a wall panel, a lighting fixture and a prayer niche. While the Ceramics students concentrated on producing tile panels in a variety of designs and techniques.