Placeholder — replace with a photo from the visit
other · Modern
Darb 1718 Contemporary Art Centre
Contemporary art rooted in Old Cairo
In Old Cairo’s potters’ district, Darb 1718 operates as a contemporary art space rather than a fixed museum: exhibitions, workshops, concerts, performances and residencies change continuously.
About this place
Darb 1718 was founded in Cairo in 2008 by artist Moataz Nasr as an independent contemporary art and culture centre. It based its work in Fustat and Old Cairo, an area historically associated with traditional crafts and pottery and located near some of the city’s most important religious and archaeological landmarks, creating an ongoing dialogue between contemporary art and the historic neighbourhood around it.
Darb 1718 does not revolve around a permanent collection. Its programme is built around changing exhibitions, workshops, film screenings, talks, concerts, artist programmes and community projects. The content of a visit therefore changes throughout the year, while the centre’s identity remains focused on supporting Egyptian, regional and international artists and connecting them with Cairo audiences and the Fustat community.
Its defining quality is the placement of contemporary art inside Fustat, where experimental exhibitions and programmes sit within one of Cairo’s oldest historic districts.
Visitor information
- Opening hours
- Sunday — 11:00 – 17:00
Monday — 11:00 – 17:00
Tuesday — 11:00 – 17:00
Wednesday — 11:00 – 17:00
Thursday — 11:00 – 17:00 - Payment
- Card · Cash
- Amenities
- Toilets
| Tickets | Price | Checked |
|---|---|---|
| Egyptian | 0 | 2026-09-06 |
| Egyptian student | 0 | 2026-09-06 |
| Foreign | 0 | 2026-09-06 |
| Foreign student | 0 | 2026-09-06 |
Highlights
- Rotating contemporary art exhibitions
- Workshops, talks and artist programmes
- Concerts and performances when scheduled
Tips from the visit
- Check Darb’s site or social channels on the day; the programme determines what you will see.
- Combine it with Fustat’s craft centre and Old Cairo.
- Mar Girgis is the nearest useful metro station.
Worth knowing
- Centre opening hours do not guarantee that an exhibition is running at all times; installation gaps can occur.
- Paid events and workshops have their own prices and schedules.
Location & getting there
3 Kasr Al Shama’e Street, Al-Fakhareen, Old Cairo, Cairo
Nearest landmark: قرية الفسطاط للفخار
Nearest metro: مار جرجس
From Mar Girgis metro, head toward the potters’ district/Kasr Al Shama’e in Old Cairo, behind the Hanging Church and near Amr Ibn al-As Mosque.
30.0006, 31.2308
Open in Google Maps ↗Nearby
Since opening in 1902, the Tahrir museum has become part of Egyptology’s own history. Although the Tutankhamun collection has moved to the Grand Egyptian Museum, its halls still hold exceptional objects spanning ancient Egyptian history.
In Fustat, the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization tells Egypt’s story as one continuous timeline from prehistory to the modern era, before the Royal Mummies Hall shifts the experience into a quieter encounter.
Within the Roman fortress of Babylon, the Coptic Museum holds one of the world’s richest collections of Coptic art, while the Hanging Church, Abu Serga, Ben Ezra Synagogue and other Old Cairo landmarks sit steps away.