Abou-Ghazi declared in a conference held yesterday, 9 May, that the cabinet is considering reducing the budget of the Ministry. The Cultural Development Fund has already lost 83 per cent of its resources, which makes up LE 100 million annually.

He explained that the reason behind this severe reduction is the division between the Ministry of State for Antiquities Affairs and the Ministry of Culture.

Abou-Ghazi stated that the Ministry is now concentrating on low-budget events, like the cultural convoys that travel around the Egyptian governorates, and he commended initiations like the art festivities in major Egyptian squares such as El-Fan Midan (Art is a square), which the ministry has supported.

He has also announced that the International Film Festival and the Experimental Theatre Festival will both be put on hold this year.