Curatorial Ethos
Access Art Space continues the mission of Townhouse Gallery: to make contemporary art accessible to all without compromising creative practice, supporting artistic work through exhibitions, residencies for artists and curators, education and outreach in downtown Cairo.
Townhouse was founded in 1998 by William Wells as the first independent art space in Egypt, set in the lanes of downtown's car-mechanics district. It ran exhibitions, international residencies, the Rooftop Studios for Egyptian artists from 2009, a library and the Rawabet performance space, co-founded the Nitaq festival and incubated several Cairo art spaces. In September 2020 the Townhouse team reopened its premises on El Nabarawy Street as Access Art Space, which continues to stage solo and group exhibitions and serves as a venue of the Cairo International Art District.
Why this gallery matters
Exhibo editorial
El Nabarawy Street, off Champollion, in downtown's car-mechanics district, next to the Rawabet theatre — where workshops spill into the lane and the lane runs straight into the gallery. William Wells founded Townhouse here in 1998 as Egypt's first independent art space, and for two decades it was where Cairo's contemporary scene learned to exist: the Nitaq festival, residencies, rooftop studios, a library, a former factory turned exhibition hall. Several of the spaces that came after were incubated in these rooms. In 2020 the same team reopened them as Access Art Space; the name changed, the address and the job did not. Solo shows of Egyptian painters, a stop on the Cairo International Art District every autumn, mechanics still at work outside. Check what is on — then stay for the street.
Visit
Hours, directions, and direct contact. For programme or press enquiries, use the contact form below.
Address
10 Al Nabrawi St (off Champollion St), Downtown, Cairo
Opening hours
- Monday
- 12:00 – 21:00
- Tuesday
- 12:00 – 21:00
- Wednesday
- 12:00 – 21:00
- Thursday
- Closed
- Friday
- Closed
- Saturday
- 12:00 – 21:00
- Sunday
- 12:00 – 21:00
Hours may change during events; check the programme. Free entry.
Contact
Direct enquiries through Exhibo are available once this profile is verified by the gallery.
Contact unavailable
When the gallery owner verifies this profile on Exhibo, a contact form will appear here so you can reach them directly through our portal — enquiries, press, and partnerships routed to their team.
That has not happened yet, which is why you are seeing this message instead of a form.