Identifier | Created | Classification | Origin |
---|---|---|---|
05CAIRO9425 | 2005-12-21 12:52:00 | UNCLASSIFIED | Embassy Cairo |
This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available. |
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 CAIRO 009425 |
1. Post is pleased at ECAs commitment to revitalizing cultural and sports programming and eager to collaborate in developing effective new approaches. These programs are invaluable tools for developing mutual understanding with different socio-economic levels, especially Egypts emerging youth, a target demographic for this Mission. 2. Answers to specific questions follow. A. Which of your Mission objectives benefits from cultural programs or could be better supported by cultural programs including sports programs? Cultural programming benefits all strategic goals. Posts 2004 translation and production of Our Town generated an exchange of ideas on diverse subjects from rom Counter-Terrorism to Promotion of Democracy and Human Rights. For a number of years, music scholarships from groups such as Apple Hill have provided opportunities for Egyptian musicians to work with Israelis, thus building support for the goal of Regional Stability. Sports programs have enormous potential to build good will with Egyptian youth and their parents. Last years basketball Cultural Envoys gave non-elite Egyptian students a rare opportunity for substantive interaction with Americans. The lessons conveyed were not just about basketball but about human rights and democratic access, and that excellence can bring rewards. We would strongly encourage increased emphasis on sports programs. B. What kind of specific cultural or sports programs or initiatives are, or would be, most effective in supporting those objectives? In planning cultural outreach, we should strive for a balance of programs accessible to broader, non-elite audiences (sports, music, theatre in translation work well) and programs for more sophisticated audiences that show the excellence of American arts and bring viewers into touch with current thinking (art exhibitions, dance, film and video). Exchanges in the arts, as in other fields, are one of the very best ways to change perceptions of the United States; grantees who teach or train others produce a considerable multiplier effect. Smaller, more mobile programs are needed to move outside major cities and reach broader audiences. For cultural programming, local participation pumps up the impact. For example, workshops or inviting local musicians on stage are preferable to straight performances. More ambitiously, Cairo took advantage of the Regional Arabic Book program to translate a play into Arabic which an ECA- provided American director staged in Arabic with an Egyptian cast. This is a model that requires a long time-line, careful planning and significant resources, but one that produced exceptional results. C.What constraints does your Mission face in effectively utilizing cultural, arts, and sports programs? Cairo suffers from a shortage of venues. Appropriate theatres, galleries and arenas are often booked months in advance in Cairo and Alexandria. Facilities in provincial towns often lack basic requirements such as lighting and sound, or impose onerous requirements to obtain permission to use them. We also have internal staff and funding constraints. Egypts highly mannered and bureaucratic culture makes planning any event very labor-intensive. Cultural programs, particularly those that reach large, diverse audiences, require considerable planning. Venues must be visited, permissions must be sought, many details arranged over a period of time. Even small cultural presentations can take large chunks of our program budget. The New Orleans All Stars Jazz Band, for example, though funded mostly by Washington, cost Post almost $8,000. For that event, we had to forego televising the concert t because the jazz band required payment of an additional premium if it was televised. Publicity costs to reach the broader audiences that we target represent a major budget consideration. Ambitious projects suffer from our inability to financially commit to programs that need planning in one fiscal year for implementation in the next. D. How have you been able to partner with the private sector in your country to sponsor cultural/sports events, or to overcome resource (staff and funding) constraints? For many years, Cairo carried out quite extraordinary cultural programming with funds raised through its Corporate Cultural Fund. Some fundraising is still possible, but we are now competing with an increasingly active Egyptian civil society. Cultural institutions are often willing to give venues for free or for minimal charges. Sports clubs would welcome athletes. This post has benefited from private American artists who often come to Cairo. By providing small grants to these artists, the Mission has been able to expand our cultural footprint. 3. Thank you for this opportunity to encourage more cultural and sports programs and to discuss the challenges and benefits these programs offer. Ricciardone |