Dream City: The festival that awakens the Medina of Tunis
Every year, the Medina of Tunis comes alive for more than two weeks with the sounds and colors of Dream City. This arts festival, which is in its ninth edition, has become an unmissable event for young people in search of culture. Between exhibitions, installations, debates, dance and concerts, Dream City offers an eclectic mix of artistic activities which attracts an ever-increasing audience.
Beyond the artistic excitement, Dream City also brings new life to forgotten or abandoned places in the Medina. By investing in these spaces, the festival contributes to the revaluation of heritage through youth.
In these narrow streets steeped in history, it is not uncommon to discover little-known places, such as the Barracks El Attarine, an old library built in 1813. For Zeineb Ettaieb, architecture student and volunteer for Dream City, it This is an opportunity to rediscover and raise awareness of this too often neglected heritage. She emphasizes: “What I love about Dream City is that we discover places that we didn’t know about. Unfortunately, we also realize that they are not maintained. So I hope that their reopening will give the necessary impetus to restore them properly.
Beyond its cultural vocation, Dream City is supported by the Art Rue association, which works all year round to include young people in the Medina district and promotes art and culture. This commitment is all the more important as the festival directly embraces its political and social themes. Sofian Ouissi, dancer and choreographer, co-founder of Art Rue and the festival, explains: “We do not play politics, but we are fully committed to respecting individual freedoms. Our interest is the dignity of bodies, the defense of every citizen. This is the entire Art Rue project for 16 years.”
Despite the threats to freedom of expression and an uncertain political situation, Dream City continues to push the limits and question society’s issues through art. Sofian Ouissi also highlights the positive collaboration with the institutions and the Minister of Culture, who gave their support and opened their doors. The festival is therefore an opportunity to overcome divisions and create a space for dialogue and creativity.
Dream City closed its ninth edition on October 8, 2023, leaving behind around forty works created by artists from 18 different countries. These works address various themes such as revolutions, ecological transition, anti-racist and feminist struggles. Dream City is much more than a simple arts festival, it is a real catalyst for emotions, debates and changes in the Medina of Tunis.