Under the patronage of Professor Dr. Ahmed Fouad Henou, Minister of Culture, and Major General Khaled El-Labban, Assistant Minister of Culture for the General Authority for Cultural Palaces, and within the framework of the Authority's role in developing the artistic movement in Egypt and targeting diverse Egyptian environments and selecting a group of visual artists to experience the lives of the people of these environments, the General Administration of Fine Arts and Environmental Crafts, affiliated with the Central Administration for Technical Affairs, headed by artist Ahmed El-Shafei, inaugurated the "First Abnub Forum for Painting and Photography" exhibition at the Hanager Arts Center in the Egyptian Opera House yesterday, Tuesday, December 16, 2025, at 7:00 PM. The exhibition was opened by artist Ahmed El-Shafei, Head of the Central Administration for Technical Affairs, in the presence of the renowned artist Galal Gomaa, a pioneer of wire sculpture; artist Walaa Farag, Director of the Exhibitions and Studios Department; artist Dr. Badawy Mabrouk, Director General of Village Culture; artist Vivian El-Batnony, Director General of Fine Arts; and a number of participating artists. The exhibition was held for the first time as part of activating new studio spaces in Assiut Governorate (Culture Branch). Assiut - Central Upper Egypt Cultural Region, from December 16th to December 21st, 2025. It is worth noting that the [First Abnub Painting and Photography Forum] includes (16) visual artists. The participating artists in the forum's exhibition are:
Artist Professor Dr. Mohamed Thabet Badary (General Commissioner of the Forum) Artist Fatima Magdy Artist Dina Mohamed Artist Bishoy Zare' Artist Hossam Hashem Artist Anis El-Zoghby Artist Saber Taha Artist Ashraf Kamal Artist Kyrillos Ragai Artist Islam El-Hawary Artist Mohamed Samir Artist Mahmoud Senousi Artist Saleh Senousi Artist Asmaa Taha Artist Mona Fathy Artist Amira Attia Artist Walaa Farag, Supervisor of the group. The participating artists were honored with certificates of appreciation during the exhibition's opening.
