Hamdy Zidan is the chief executive officer of Eskendrella. Eskenderella was founded back in 1999, but its role in the development of cultures and arts is vital at this time in Alexandria. Egypt’s second largest city, once one of the most prosperous and multicultural cities of the ancient world, has seen a recent rise in social tension, destruction of cultural and architectural heritage, along with lack of cultural spaces for artists and youth. This makes Eskenderella’s work and support indispensable for being an inclusive creative space for everyone. Eskenderella focuses on creating justice through co-working and it is considered to be a cultural space open to minorities and marginalized groups, at Kom el Dikka, which is a historically rich, multicultural place, and yet is a relatively socially disadvantaged area in Alexandria.
Eskendrella believes that art is a human right and is not merely a luxury; it aims to narrow the gap between artists and the society while it nourishes citizens’ minds and souls.
Eskendrella holds a wide variety of activities, working in public spaces, streets, homes, and coffee shops to preserve individual and societal heritage as a part of reviving Alexandria’s unique heritage and history. Eskendrella also shows film screenings about the city’s cultural heritage, and offers performing arts, street carnivals, presenting city folklore, storytelling for historical anecdotes, research and documentation to raise awareness about cultural freedom and social justice issues in the city. Currently, Eskendrella is preparing a garage to be used as a working space, with the aim to increase the number of beneficiaries, mainly youth and artists.