Mazra’a Network for Arts and Culture, previously known as 404 for Arts, is a social enterprise based in Cairo, Egypt, that aims to re-strengthen the social fabric through community-based cultural practices and approaches to encourage collaboration and artistic expression.

Founded in 2019 by Youssef Mansour, Mazra’a today is a multi-dimensional network reimagining Egypt’s arts and culture scene to cultivate inclusivity, creativity, and collaboration amongst diverse stakeholders.

Our choice of the name “Mazra’a” (Farm) stems from our connection to Egyptian identity and heritage. Agriculture was the foundation of Egyptian civilization along the banks of the Nile River thousands of years ago, and it continues to nourish and sustain our society, our farms, and our lives to this day. The name “Mazra’a” is a reminder and a desire to return to the values ​​of social cohesion, which we often forget amidst the allure of Western individualism. This individualism, imposed upon us, hinders collaboration and creative artistic production due to fierce individual competition driven by the demands of the art market. “Mazra’a” was born from the need to restructure and rewrite our cultural narrative surrounding artistic and cultural creativity, to remove obstacles to artistic expression, and to promote the preservation of our heritage.