Egypt’s Minister of Culture Dr. Ahmed Fouad Henno convened the official committee tasked with selecting the next president of the Academy of Arts — one of the Arab world’s foremost institutions dedicated to artistic and creative education.
At the heart of the committee’s deliberations is Dr. Neveen Elkilany, Egypt’s former Minister of Culture and a distinguished academic who once led the Academy’s Institute of Art Criticism.
Known for her deep expertise in cultural policy and decades of service in both academic and governmental spheres, Dr. Elkilany brings a critical, insider’s perspective to the selection process — one grounded in a nuanced understanding of the Academy’s legacy, internal dynamics, and the broader cultural landscape in which it operates.
In a statement issued by the Ministry of Culture, Minister Henno emphasized that the committee was formed “in accordance with the principles of transparency and equality, following the model used by the Supreme Council of Universities in selecting university presidents.” He noted that the advisory panel, composed of eminent academics and cultural leaders, is tasked with identifying candidates based on objective, scholarly criteria and in full compliance with the legal framework governing the Academy of Arts.
Dr. Elkilany’s role is particularly significant given her dual vantage point as both a former policymaker and a veteran academic. Her previous tenure at the helm of Egypt’s cultural ministry saw a series of reforms aimed at institutional modernization, including efforts to expand access to arts education and support for emerging creative talent.
Other committee members include Dr. Mofeed Shehab, an authority in international law and chair of the selection committee; Dr. Ahmed Zayed, Director of the Bibliotheca Alexandrina; Dr. Ahmed Nawar, Professor of Graphic Arts at the Faculty of Fine Arts; Dr. Yasser Saqr, former president of Helwan University; Dr. Sameh Mahran, former president of the Academy of Arts; and Dr. Ayman El-Shiwy, Dean of the Higher Institute of Dramatic Arts. The committee is also supported by a technical secretariat to ensure procedural rigor.
Dr. Henno reaffirmed the strategic importance of the Academy, describing it as a “beacon of creativity and artistic excellence in Egypt and the Arab world.” He further stressed that selecting its new leadership is a matter of national significance, requiring “meticulous evaluation, academic integrity, and forward-looking vision.”
Committee chair Dr. Shehab confirmed that the panel had established the eligibility criteria and timeline for applications, noting that full details were published on the official websites of both the Ministry of Culture and the Academy of Arts to ensure open access for all qualified candidates.
