The American Research Center in Egypt - ARCE

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The American Research Center in Egypt - ARCE

The American Research Center in Egypt
● Preserving Egyptian heritage
● Strengthening US-EG cultural collaboration

The American Research Center in Egypt (ARCE) is a private, nonprofit organization founded in 1948 to support research on Egyptian history and culture, foster broader knowledge about Egypt among the general public, and promote and strengthen American-Egyptian cultural ties.

11/06/2026

Is conservation a form of destruction? This question was at the heart of yesterday’s lecture by Dr. May al-Ibrashy, former ARCE fellow and recipient of ARCE's Antiquities Endowment Fund (AEF) grant for Al-Imam al-Shafi‘i Dome Conservation Project.

Reflecting on the 7 years of conservation of Imam al-Shafi‘i Dome, Dr. al-Ibrashy explored the idea that every conservation intervention inevitably changes the monument. Even when undertaken with the best intentions. Yet conservation is not only about preserving structures, it is also about preserving the relationships between people and place.

Throughout the conservation process, the project team actively engaged the surrounding community. Drawing on the anthropological concept of ontological sovereignty, the right of communities to define the meanings, relationships, and ways of being that shape their world. Recognizing that the mausoleum's significance extends beyond its architecture. Their efforts were rewarded when the shrine reopened after seven years of closure and welcomed more than 1,000 visitors a day, demonstrating the enduring connection between the monument and its visitors.

Dr. al-Ibrashy also highlighted the importance of making knowledge accessible. The conservation project resulted in a technical conservation report that is freely available on Megawra's website and the seed of a book documenting the history and conservation of the site.

Thank you, Dr. May al-Ibrashy, for a fascinating lecture that challenged us to think about conservation not only as the preservation of monuments, but as the preservation of living heritage.

For more events: https://shorturl.at/mzIra

09/06/2026

From the Virgin Mary Tree in Matariya to the Abu Serga Church in Mar Girgis, our 2026 ARCE members-only tour follows the path of the Holy Family, combining religious reverence, historical exploration, and natural beauty across key Egyptian sites. Our Tour Lead is Dr. Mary Kupelian, a professor at the faculty of Tourism and Hotel Management at Helwan University.

Previous tours have offered participants unique access to unique historical sites, direct insights from project directors, and unforgettable experiences supporting Egypt’s cultural heritage.

⏳ Deadline to register: June 30, 2026
📅 Dates: November 4–17, 2026
🔗 Learn more: https://shorturl.at/ZwRUA

02/06/2026

Join us for an engaging in-person lecture with Dr. May al-Ibrashy, architect, conservation specialist, and founder of Megawra–Built Environment Collective, as she reflects on a decade of work at the mausoleum of al-Imam al-Shafi'i and the broader challenges facing Historic Cairo. Drawing on the conservation project, the creation of an on-site visitors’ center, and years of experience working with local communities, Dr. al-Ibrashy will explore the tensions between conservation and change, heritage and development, and what the future may hold for one of the world's most remarkable historic cities.

📅 June 10, 2026
🕕 6:00 PM EEST
📍 ARCE Cairo Office, 2 Midan Simon Bolivar, Garden City.
🔗 https://shorturl.at/afvG7

25/05/2026

Another beauty uncovered from our archives.✨Built during the coregency of Hatshepsut and Thutmose III atop what is believed to be the holy mound marking the burial place of the eight primeval gods of Egypt. The small Temple of Amun at Medinet Habu, also referred to as the 18th Dynasty Temple, boasts beautiful painted reliefs and inscriptions depicting the daily offering ritual. The walls of the temple’s facades and inner sanctuaries bear the effects of methodical alterations administered during Thutmose III’s sole reign to eradicate Hateshepsut’s presence from the temple; they also suffered damages during the iconoclasm of Akhenaten’s reign in the Amarna period.

In 1981, the Epigraphic Survey undertook the cleaning and documentation of the temple’s painted reliefs; however, environmental factors like torrential rainstorms and rising groundwater exacerbated the temple’s conditions, the Egyptian Antiquities Project (EAP) of the American Research Center in Egypt (ARCE) worked with the Epigraphic Survey to support the additional conservation efforts needed at the temple, including the documentation and restoration of the Kush*te foundation blocks discovered during trenching efforts done by the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities وزارة السياحة والآثار in 1994. During conservation, a colossal granodiorite dyad statue of Thutmose III and Amun and a granite Naos were excavated and restored.

Visit our archives website to explore the collection and learn more about the ten-season long conservation efforts! https://shorturl.at/r4G1b

21/05/2026

The Spring issue of Scribe is finally here! 🌸 In this latest edition, members can explore reflections on the Cross-Cultural Interaction in Egypt through the Ages Conference, updates from AEF projects, ARCE fellows, ARCE’s new headquarters updates, and much more!

Become a member and receive two issues of Scribe each year.

08/05/2026

⚠️ Timing Update: Please note that the session will begin at 8 PM Cairo Time instead of 7 PM.

Join us for the third ARCE Library Book Club session ✨. We’re featuring “Ancient Egyptian Animal Fables: Tree Climbing Hippos and Ennobled Mice” by Jennifer Miyuki Babcock. Discover how artists in New Kingdom Thebes brought animals to life with human traits, weaving humor, religion, and social insight into their imagery.

🗓 8 PM Cairo Time
📍 On Zoom
🔗 Register through this link: https://tinyurl.com/46c8rer4

29/04/2026

Tonight’s career panel brought together a dynamic group of speakers, each offering a unique perspective across five different themes and career paths, proving just how expansive and evolving the field of Egyptology has become.

Dr. Elshayeb opened the discussion by emphasizing how rapidly the professional landscape is evolving, noting that roles like content creators and prompt engineers are recent developments that highlight the need for adaptability. Mr. Rashad complemented this perspective from the film industry, stressing the importance of portraying Egyptian heritage authentically and moving beyond overused Hollywood tropes to better connect with local audiences.

Similarly, Dr. Shaaban explored the creative potential of Egyptology, showing how it can extend into literature and other artistic fields. Through his fiction, he brings ancient Egypt to life, underscoring the importance of engaging younger generations and sparking their curiosity about the past.

Dr. Gallego and Ms. Elmessiry highlighted the wide-ranging career paths linked to archaeology and Egyptology. Dr. Gallego reflected on how the field opens doors to diverse opportunities, while Ms. Elmessiry emphasized the role Egyptologists can play in design by ensuring historical accuracy in creative work across different contexts.

Finally, Dr. Hartwig left us with a resonant message: “Make yourself relevant” Whether through academic pursuits or creative expression, following your passion can lead you exactly where you need to be.

Thank you to everyone who attended, we look forward to welcoming you at our upcoming lectures!

28/04/2026

We’re happy to welcome you back! Our Cairo office has officially reopened! And we’re not coming back empty-handed 😎, stay tuned to our social media for upcoming in-person events.

Our office and library are open Monday through Thursday:

Office hours: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Library hours: 9:00 AM – 3:30 PM

27/04/2026

On April 7th, ARCE hosted an in-person lecture followed by a warm reception, co-hosted with the Egyptian Cultural and Educational Bureau- Washington DC (ECEB), Office of the Embassy of Arab Republic of Egypt, in their beautiful and historic building in the heart of Washington, DC.

Our speaker, Dr. Mohamed Kenawi (University of Leicester, UK), gave a presentation titled: “Shifting Sands and Settlements: Remote Sensing and Archaeology in the Western Desert and Middle Egypt.”

Dr. Kenawi guided attendees through lesser-known heritage landscapes in two extraordinary regions: the Minor Oases of the Western Desert and Middle Egypt—places rich with sites spanning the Ancient Egyptian, Hellenistic, Roman, Christian, and Islamic periods, many still off the beaten path and underrepresented in larger public narratives.

One of the evening’s highlights was the presentation of never-before-shown archaeological and heritage sites from Dr. Kenawi’s ongoing efforts to document and safeguard them—a powerful reminder of how much is still to be recorded, studied, and protected as environmental and modern pressures transform what remains on the ground.

Thank you to everyone who joined us, and to our partners at ECEB for helping make this evening such a success!

Address

2 Midan Simón Bolívar، Qasr El Nil
Cairo

Telephone

210-821-7000

Website

http://arce.org/

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