Lisbon, Portugal, 30 July 2025 – Artisans from AKDN programmes had the opportunity to share their expertise in Portugal this month at an exhibition at the Ismaili Centre Lisbon. The exhibition showcases the work of master artisans from Cairo’s historic Darb al-Ahmar neighbourhood. It was inaugurated at a diplomatic reception held with the Embassy of Egypt in Portugal, celebrating Egypt’s National Day.

The exhibition celebrates the revitalisation of Darb al-Ahmar, where the Aga Khan Trust for Culture (AKTC) has created the 30-hectare Al-Azhar Park and catalysed urban renewal in one of the world’s most congested cities. The programme included vocational training, housing rehabilitation, street and open space improvement, micro-credit and healthcare facility provision in Darb al-Ahmar, adjacent to the Park. A tourist route connecting 12 of the restored monuments has been accompanied by support for tourism management, spurring social and economic development. Read more.

The exhibition features artisan-made pieces and visual storytelling that reflect AKDN’s holistic approach to development and the long-term impact of the Cairo programme on the lives and livelihoods of the artisans.

The Darb al-Ahmar artisans also held a workshop with women from the Bandim Cooperative. This Aga Khan Foundation initiative supports migrant women in Portugal through skills development and craft-based activities that foster economic opportunity, social integration and collective growth.

Though shaped by different contexts and traditions, both groups are engaged in programmes that harness culture, heritage, and artisanal knowledge as tools for inclusive development and economic empowerment.

“We are proud to inaugurate together the exhibition, “The Aga Khan Historic Cities Programme and the Artisans of Al-Darb Al Ahmar”, a powerful testament to cultural preservation, urban regeneration, and community empowerment,” said His Excellency Wael El-Naggar, Ambassador of Egypt at the reception. “These efforts have breathed new life into Cairo’s historic quarters while preserving the soul of our civilisation, indeed a gift to humanity and to the generations to come.”