Egyptian artists rebel against Plastic Arts Syndicate chair

Members of the "Visual Artists Rebel" movement have granted Chairman of the Plastic Arts Syndicate Hamdy Abu El-Maaty a chance until Monday 6 January 2014 to submit his resignation, after which they threaten to hand over records of financial transgressions to the General Prosecution and the Administrative Court. The movement had called for an emergency meeting on Monday at the Plastic Arts Syndicate -- located on the Cairo Opera House grounds -- to reach a decision regarding the removal of the current chairman and his committee who are being required by the artists to answer to their administrative and financial failures. Among those who called for the meeting was visual artist Reda Abdel-Rahman, who told Ahram Online that documents indicating financial transgressions are in the artists' possession. Abdel-Rahman added that a number of visual artists are at odds with Abu El-Maaty for several reasons, including his financial infractions and his marginalisation of syndicate members while he dominates decision-making and administrative roles. The artist further elaborated that Abu El-Maaty disregards the advice and opinions of other elected syndicate members and the voices of the visual artists who oppose him. Abdel-Rahman added that the artists suggest handing over the syndicate committee to two of its senior members until a new syndicate chair and committee are elected, reiterating the movement's press release statement of hope for a change in the syndicate with 2014. Source: Ahram Online