There are so many activities and interesting things to do in Sharm on a sunny winter

day. Mostly they are related to the beauty of the deep sea or sunbathing on the
beaches, maybe excursions somewhere in the neighborhood of the city. But when
someone asks me: Lets go to a museum, a movie or a theater, then the only answer is
Uhmmm, well, actually there are not many cultural happenings or places to go
in Sharm el Sheikh.

This is exactly what Mr. Mohamed Hemeda wanted to change. Being a painter and a
sculptor, working as a decorating artist and interior designer for hotels, private villas
and mansions in Cairo, Hurghada, Sharm el Sheikh and also in Saudi Arabia
(decorating with sculptures and paintings, designing and creating artful ambiences), 6
years ago he has decided to do something new and innovative for his beloved country
and his favorite city, Sharm. In 2007 he established Ostraka (which means in ancient
Egyptian language sketch) and since then 8 times he brought Art Festivals and
Workshops to Sharm el Sheikh. These festivals were held also in many other
countries like Holland, Russia, Turkey and Iran.

When I heard about the Ostraka Art Festival and Workshop in the Laguna Vista
Beach Hotel in Nabq from the 18th till the 28th of February and that they are happy to
see any visitors, who are interested in Art, I had to see the place for myself. At the
lobby of the hotel I met with Mr. Mohamed Hemeda and I asked him, how the idea of
Ostraka was born.

- After many years working as a decorating artist, I have thought to stop

leaving my pieces to the actually very happy clients and selling my talent
as a product. I wanted to paint and sculpt for the real sense of art and share
both the beauty and the joy of creating them with other people like me. So I
have started to organize small workshops for friends and by the huge
success, one fine day, 6 years ago, Ostraka as organization was born. I am
Egyptian and proud to be one, I wanted the world to see, where we are
working, what we are able to do and to show my beautiful country to
everyone. Although I am from Cairo and my family lives now there, I love
Sharm el Sheikh, and would love to invite all to spend time in this amazing
city, which has so much to offer. I am dreaming of the day, when we can
transform Sharm el Sheikh into a City of Art by all the pieces we are
exhibiting here. The workshop always leaves the art creations in Sharm. In
December 2013 more than 100 sculptor artists from all over the world are
coming here and will be given big size raw marble blocks to create statues
and sculptures, which I would like to spread all over Sharm el Sheikh, as an
 outdoor exhibition for all the tourists, who are coming here, to see. This
way we can promote both art and this wonderful city. The workshop is open
to everyone to visit, while the artists are working. Where most people
would just see a block of marble, a sculptor can see a statue hiding within
the raw material, and views his job as chiseling away the exterior and the
pieces of marble to reveal the work of art. This is what we want to show to
everyone, who is interested in the magic of creativity. he said.

To my surprise, I have found many children in front of the halls of the workshop.
They were coming from the International French School of Sharm el Sheikh,
accompanied by the director and parents, and formed a happy, little crowd with
buckets of colors to paint around a huge wooden panel. The workshops artists were
all mixed with the children helping them, guiding and teaching them to the art of
painting.

- There are 33 artist from 14 countries with us today. From Syria, Turkey,
Azerbaijan, Corea, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Norway, Palestine, Bahrain,
Lebanon, Belorussia, Slovakia, France and Yemen. This is a workshop for
painters this time, but we do have other occasions for sculptors, too. said
Mr. Hemeda.

The young graffiti artist and painter, Mr. mit Turgay Durgun, who was working
with the children is from Turkey. He is currently studying at the Accademia di Belle
Arti di Carrara in Italy. He has built a large wooden panel and painted it the previous
day all black, has prepared small wood pieces for the children to paint and while the
little ones were having fun to color with the brushes, he sprayed the big panel with a
graffiti, entitled Freedom.

- I was thinking of painting with children to spread the feeling of creativity

in a very early age, so that they can discover the joy of expressing their
imagination with the help of the other professional artists and to be proud
to contribute to a real piece of art, a painting, which will be exhibited in this
very prestigious 5 star hotel. Graffiti is an easy way to find interest as art for
the children. I have chosen the title of the painting Freedom for three
reasons, first of all, because we all need to support freedom for all around
the world and this message is given also through this piece of art, second,
because we wanted to give the freedom to the children to express
themselves, without any criticism or boundaries from the society. And at
 last, to teach them how to work together, how to use the materials and
sharing their ideas while having fun. - said Mr. mit.

Ostraka through the years became like a family for many artists and still continue
embracing new ones. It has more than 3000 members from all around the world.
Everybody who would like to participate in Ostraka will be chosen for the variety of
technics or style without considering the level of education in artworks. All they need
to do is to fill out an application form and contact Mr. Hemeda, there are no
boundaries, he welcomes everyone to be part of the workshop.

- The basic idea of Ostraka was to gather friends and make new ones to
exchange and spread Art all over the world. said Mr. Hemeda.

Mr. Osama Okel, one of the participating painter of the workshop from Saudi Arabia
said:

- Ostraka and its members became truly like a family to me. This year I have
brought my son with me, he wants to become a painter. The community
here is helping and teaching him. Mr. Mohamed Hemeda takes such good
care of every one of us, that I dont need to worry about where my son is
and what he is doing. With great principals and foresight he is leading all of
us to a successful and happy creativity, it makes us all feel united and the
results are left always at city where the workshop takes place, so it has also
a value and possibility for many other people to such exhibitions in the
future.

The next Festival will be in November in Sharm, for painting and if anybody is
interested to be part of it, there is still time to contact Mr. Hemeda. He has plans also
for the education of the children in art, making possible a continuous workshop for
them.

It was a great discovery to learn to know about Ostraka in Sharm el Sheikh,

especially in these rather difficult times for tourism and everyday life, it is giving a
beam of hope to everyone in the city for the future. If you want to know more about
the organization, workshops and festivals, visiting, participating or support them,
please visit Ostrakas Facebook page.