The Creative Cities: Re-framing Downtown Cairo conference invited international examples of successful models of creative cities of relevance to the future development of downtown Cairo, and in dialogue with local stakeholders considered the role culture can play as a catalyst for development. Looking critically at the changes that have taken place in Cairo over the past few years, and building on the wealth of studies of both urban history and contemporary conditions that Cairo enjoys, the conference was organized to emphasize comparative and interdisciplinary approaches to issues related to public space, heritage and urban culture, the revitalization of Downtown in the context of gentrification and securitization, and urban governance.