Handicrafts always bring a sense of artistry to a place, whether it is in the form of a carefully sewn bag, a meticulously crafted tablecloth, or a beautifully painted piece of pottery. While most of Egypt’s handicrafts are sold to tourists according to a 2019 study, local artisans still work hard to exhibit their pieces year round in events like Diarna. Diarna is a handicrafts exhibition organized by the Egyptian Ministry of Social Solidarity in partnership with the Ebdaa Men Masr (Creativity from Egypt) project by the Alex Bank and Sawiris Foundation for Social Development. It takes place every year, with smaller editions of the exhibition occasionally running at different times. While the main event can usually be found in the First Settlement, another edition is currently being held at Marina 5 in the North Coast. Despite its size, the exhibition remains filled to the brim with all manner of eye-catching handicrafts by artisans from all across Egypt and beyond who are enthusiastic about sharing their work. From 4PM to 4AM throughout July and August, the many halls of Diarna have been lined with booths of all sorts of unique…
