Quarterly Report: April 1 – June 30, 2018

The project aims to promote cultural heritage tourism in Egypt, with a focus on the Luxor and Sohag regions. In the second quarter of Project Year Four, which spans from April 1 to June 30, 2018, ARCE completed various activities as outlined in the implementation plan approved by USAID. The project's scope includes the conservation and training of Egyptian conservators, site management, and cultural heritage and community awareness. In Luxor, Program 1, Qurnet Mara'i, was completed, with the tombs prepared and open for visitors. Program 2, Dra Abul Naga, was also completed, with combination trash receptacles and ash trays placed next to the tombs. Program 3, Khonsu Temple, was completed, with repair and patching of the flooring and reinforcement of the existing columns in Chapel 4. In Sohag, Program 4, Red Monastery, was ongoing, with conservation and training in the nave. Eight Egyptian conservators continued advanced practical training with the Italian team. Program 5, Red Monastery, involved site management and preparation in the nave, with an emergency treatment for termite infestation completed by Dr. Nicholas Warner. Planning was underway for the installation of a third door in the Comite wall, railing to delineate the position of the former wall on the south side of the nave, and protective railing for lower tier paintings on the west and north walls. The project also involved cultural heritage and community awareness, with consultant Dina Bakhoum conducting sessions of the heritage awareness capacity building course for the monks of the Red and White Monasteries. A visit to the Red Monastery was organized for twenty-six tour guides from Luxor, who were given an explanation of the church's history, art, and architecture, as well as the conservation work carried out by ARCE with USAID funding. The project's financial report shows that the total approved award budget was $1,577,088, with $828,726 spent in the reporting period. The total spent to date as of June 30, 2018, was $1,304,584. The monitoring and evaluation table shows that the project has made significant progress in various areas, including the documentation and stabilization of TT110, the employment of local skilled and unskilled workers, and the training of Egyptian conservators. The project has also created a sustainable management plan for TT110 and applied methods in conservation that will be documented and made accessible. Overall, the Cultural Heritage Tourism Project in Egypt has made significant progress in promoting cultural heritage tourism in the Luxor and Sohag regions, with a focus on conservation, training, and community awareness.