The Governmental Efforts in Emphasizing Identity through Art Projects “Siwa Oasis studios as a case study”

Abstract

Within each culture, the multi-source origins play an essential role to form its distinct moral and aesthetic values, which emphasize the cultural identity. These values were accumulated through ages. That’s why every single cultural tributary should be traced, to demonstrate the extent of its impact on specific city identity formation.The Egyptian government pays due attention to Siwa Oasis because of its special historical and cultural characteristics. It happens in co-operation with one of the Culture Ministry sectors "the General organization for Cultural Palaces", that adopted the idea of reviving the project of city studios. Such initiative has been established before at the city of Luxor. For example, a financial and logistic support was provided for the initiative in a similar context.From this standing point, this paper provides a historical study about Siwa Oasis since its inception at the Ancient Egyptian era and through the Greco-Roman, the Coptic-Islamic era, and the Arab influences till now. Also, I will review the Siwa studios grant: procedures, different sessions and the most interesting aspect of it, which is the exhibitions.The historical and cultural overview will include: the Significant monuments in the city, location and environment, population and their language, traditions, and custom, and finally, the Siwa Oasis features nowadays.Reviewing the project stages will include: how to apply? On what bases the participants was chosen? Also, information about the time schedule, the site-visits, etc. Finally, I will analyze some artworks from 2009 till now in order to emphasize the importance of such activity on the cultural map.