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Deadline: 13 May 2011

OBJECTIVE

The Creative Writing Residency is open to writers of all stripes and any nationality. Jointly organised by the National University of Singapore’s University Scholars Programme (NUS USP) and The Arts House (TAH), the Creative Writing Residency 2011 aims to:

a) provide time, opportunity and environment for the Resident to complete a written work in the English language of substantial length and content;
b) provide mentorship for students and potential writers in Singapore, and stimulate new writing from them through public programmes organised by the Resident.

The completed work can be fiction or non-fiction, cover any topic, and may be in one of the following forms:

(i) prose;
(ii) verse;
(iii) stage play;
(iv) radio play; or
(v) screenplay,
or any other written form, subject to approval.

The completed work must be in the written medium, which can either be published (in print or electronic media) or performed. The work must be of a standard ready for publication and for a public reading/lecture by the end of the Residency, or shortly thereafter.

The Residency will last from August 2011 to July 2012. The successful applicant will be given a monthly stipend of SGD3,500, time, and lodging for one year to create a new work. A bonus of SGD3,000, subject to performance appraisal, will be paid out at the end of the Residency.

WHO MAY APPLY

The programme invites applicants of any nationality. Applicants must:

a) Be a published writer;
b) Not be enrolled as a full time student in an undergraduate or graduate programme or fully employed by any organisation at the time of appointment of the Residency.

ASSESSMENT CRITERIA

Selection for the Residency will be based on:

a) artistic achievement and potential of the applicant;
b) the strength of his/her proposal for activities during the Residency to conduct public programmes involving students and potential writers; and
c) interview performance (for shortlisted candidates only)

APPLICATION PROCEDURES Application form is available from www.usp.nus.edu.sg/happenings/2011/creative_writing_residency.html or www.theartshouse.com.sg/residency2011.html

Submit one copy of the form together with:

a) Curriculum vitae (with two references; photo optional)
b) six copies of a representative body of work to display accomplishment and commitment to a literary career;
c) a proposal for the Residency outlining his/her plans, paying special attention to plans for generating interaction and discussion among students and young writers in Singapore.

Applicants should submit works published no earlier than 2000. Applicants with works published earlier than 2000 may also apply. However, it must be noted that this Residency aims to nurture young writers and all things being equal, preference will be given to writers in earlier stages of their careers.

All manuscripts should be typewritten. Any handwritten work will be disqualified. Submit only copies and not the original. If the submission is a copy of an excerpt from a published source, the submission must include copies of the following:

• Title page showing title of work and name of author
• A page showing name of publisher and year of publication
• Contents page

REQUIREMENTS

a) The Resident must take up residency at Cinnamon College, the USP residential college at NUS, and work on site (i.e. Cinnamon College and The Arts House).
b) The Resident will be provided with the following support at Cinnamon College.
c) The Resident is to submit progress reports each quarter, and the second and fourth quarter reports are to include samples of writing completed during the Residency. Continuation of the Residency will be subject to review of the progress reports.
d) The Resident is required to make significant progress on a written work (agreed upon by the selection committee and Supervisors), which should be of a standard ready for publication in print or electronic media and a public reading/lecture by the end of the Residency.
e) Should the work be published following the completion of the Residency, the Resident must acknowledge the work as having been created during the NUS USP and TAH Creative Writing Residency.
f) The Resident is to conduct public programmes involving students and potential writers at both NUS USP and TAH during the Residency, generating interaction and critical discussion among students and potential writing talents in Singapore and stimulating new writing from them.
g) The Resident will mentor a maximum of six students during the course of Residency and will conduct weekly workshops at Cinnamon College at NUS, open to all students.
h) The Resident will mentor six potential writing talents at The Arts House. Both mentorships and workshops will result in a deliverable outcome, for instance, in the form of two simple publications (one at the half-year mark, the second at the end of Residency period) by the mentored students and writing talents.

CLOSING DATE

Application form and all supporting materials should be postmarked no later than 13 May 2011, and addressed to:

Professor John Richardson
Director
University Scholars Programme
Level 6 General Office
10 Kent Ridge Crescent
Singapore 119260

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

If the Resident is a foreign candidate, he/she will be under the employ of NUS USP subject to his/her satisfaction of any pre-employment obligations as may be required by NUS USP, including without limitation his/her obtaining a valid work pass to work in Singapore. The Residency will cover the airfare both ways.

Coordinators of the Creative Writing Residency reserve the right not to disclose reasons for approving or rejecting an application. Late, illegible and incomplete applications will not be accepted.

ENQUIRIES

For more information, please contact: enquiries@toph.com.sg or visit www.theartshouse.com.sg/residency2011.html uspbox13@nus.edu.sg or visit www.usp.nus.edu.sg/happenings/2011/creative_writing_residency.html

Download the application form here >>

Between the Lines: July 11-25, 2011

For the fourth year in a row, the International Writing Program, in cooperation with the Iowa Young Writers’ Studio (IYWS), will host the Between the Lines (BTL) program. Twelve young writers from Arabic-speaking countries, aged 16-19, will be invited to the University of Iowa, where they will participate in writing workshops, visit local sights, and deepen their understanding of the United States through interactions with fellow students and the community. Workshops will be led by teachers who are respected writers in their own right.

Accommodations are in Currier Hall, a dormitory within easy walking distance of the Writers’ Workshop, the International Writing Program, and other UI sites. Boys and girls reside in separate areas under the supervision of adult chaperones.

Participating students will have their travel, room/board, and most cultural expenses covered.

BTL is sponsored through grant funds provided by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the US State Department.

The Curriculum

Workshops

Just about every writing program offers some variation of the workshop; it is the only way a writer can get direct feedback from his or her readers. Workshopping is not writing by committee. Instead, constructive criticism helps a writer to see his/her work through the eyes of good readers. The text for this class is the writing that students generate. Workshop inevitably precipitates in-depth, thoughtful meditations on what it is that writers do. Instructors ensure that workshops present a supportive environment. In BTL, students participate in two workshops: one in Arabic and one in English. In the English-language workshop, students will learn alongside their American peers.

More Daily Activities

Structure is a writer’s best friend. Each day begins with Morning Reports, a chance to make sure everyone is up to speed, to announce readings, and to cover logistics. The Studio occasionally hosts speakers during this meeting.

* Every morning students get together to write as a group. Instructors will introduce favorite writing exercises.
* Evening activities include visits and readings with established writers and trips to interesting places around Iowa City. There is at least one featured literary activity each night.

Iowa City, Iowa

With a literary pedigree rivaling that of Chicago and New York, Iowa City is home to the Iowa Writers’ Workshop and the Nonfiction Writing Program, as well as the International Writing Program, the Playwrights’ Workshop, the Iowa Summer Writing Festival, and the Center for the Book. That’s quite a resume for a town of 60,000. To see how much Iowa City values its writers, all you need to do is stroll down its main street, Iowa Avenue, and look at the Literary Walk, a series of bronze relief panels that honor 49 writers with ties to Iowa, including Kurt Vonnegut, Flannery O’Connor, and Rita Dove. This is a busy, picturesque college town with several coffee houses, movie theaters, a mall, and shops to visit. It should come as no surprise that in 2008, the United Nations Educational, Cultural, and Scientific Organization (UNESCO) named Iowa City the world’s third City of Literature, joining Edinburgh, Scotland, and Melbourne, Australia.

Visiting writers will give informal talks and presentations about the craft of writing and the writing life. Staff will organize outings to local attractions, plays and concerts. The Writers’ Workshop and Prairie Lights Bookstore offer their own reading series, which provide alternate readings several times a week.

Housing

The Residence Hall

Participants live in Currier Residence Hall. Stately, newly-renovated, but traditional, Currier is located on a tree-lined street near the heart of the University’s campus. Some of its amenities include courtyard, several lounges, laundry rooms, vending machines, a pool table and game room, a grand piano, and – most importantly – a spacious new computer lab. The residence hall and its surroundings are well lit. Currier’s doors are locked each night and university security officers make regular rounds of each floor. Each student room can be locked from the inside. A Residence Hall Coordinator is available 24 hours a day.

Chaperones and Counselors

Students are escorted to and from a designated city by adult chaperones who are fluent in both Arabic and English. These chaperones act as Arabic-speaking liaisons between the students and the BTL and IYWS staff. They also work with the IWP on BTL-related projects, and attend an Iowa Summer Writing Festival class of their choice.

During the session, adult, university-trained counselors live on each floor. They are there to listen to students’ concerns, solve problems that may arise, and help ensure the safety of every BTL and IYWS student. They are also writers themselves, and can give writing advice and foster a strong sense of creative community.

Rules

In order to ensure a safe and enjoyable living experience, there are a number of rules that all BTL participants must follow. Some of these rules are:

1. Smoking and/or the use of alcohol or other illegal substances is strictly prohibited.
2. Nightly room checks and morning roll call are mandatory.
3. Students must be on their hall by 10:30 pm.

In order to participate in BTL, all participants, as well as a parent or guardian, must sign forms indicating that the participants have read the rules and will agree to live by them during the residency.

Chicago, Illinois

BTL participants will spend July 23-25 in Chicago, where they will have a chance to apply some of what they’ve learned during their time in Iowa City. One of the great American cities, Chicago has a wealth of cultural and artistic resources to explore, and never more than in the summer, when fairs and festivals occur almost every weekend. Students will participate in at least one writing workshop while there.

Questions and Answers

Who teaches the classes?

Workshop leaders are professional writers; their work is published in literary magazines and many have books published or under contract. They are also experienced teachers, both at the high school and college level. They are selected based on their knowledge, teaching ability, and enthusiasm. IYWS instructors are required to hold, or to be within one year of completing, master’s degrees in fine arts, which is the degree required to teach creative writing at the collegiate level in the United States.

Is college credit given for participating in BTL?

BTL does not offer college credit for any of the classes.

How are students admitted?

Embassies in Middle East countries are responsible for providing the International Writing Program with a pool of qualified applicants. Each applicant must provide the following:

* 7-8 pages of prose and/or poetry written in Arabic
* 7-8 pages of prose and/or poetry written in English
* A one-paragraph personal statement (in English) describing why they are interested in participating in BTL.

International Writing Program staff and BTL faculty will review the writing samples and personal statements and then choose 12 students from the pool of all qualified applicants.

For more information on BTL, contact:

Kecia Lynn, BTL Coordinator
International Writing Program
Shambaugh House
430 N. Clinton
Iowa City, IA 52245
319-384-3296
kecia-lynn@uiowa.edu

Specific call for applicants from the US Embassy in Algeria can be found here, and from the US Embassy in Libya here.

Deadline: 1 - 4 December 2010

When: Wednesday, December 01
Repeat: 2 days Until Dec 04 2010

Event description

Lola Kenya Screen Critical Writing and Creative Documentary Film Workshops
Lola Kenya Screen, PCEA Enchoro Emuny Church compound, Ngong Hills town, 22 km from Nairobi CBD

Presented in the framework of the pan African Cinetoile African mobile cinema network, these workshops that bring together 30 children and youth from Nairobi and its environs shall also mark five years since the founding of Lola Kenya Screen as an audiovisual media festival, skill-development mentorship programme and market for children and youth in eastern Africa in October 2005.

Guest speakers include The Creative Writing workshop shall be conducted by Ogova Ondego using ComMattersKenya's 2010 definitive guide on writing, How to Write on 1001 Subjects!

The Creative Writing workshop shall be conducted by Ogova Ondego using ComMattersKenya's 2010 definitive guide on writing, How to Write on 1001 Subjects!

Lola Kenya Screen appeals for support from other well wishers in helping shape the destiny of Kenya, Africa and the world through mentoring children and youth. Any organisation or individual in any part of the world interested in sharing our vision and responsibilities to the present and future generations of young people in any way may contact the Directorate of Lola Kenya Screen through director@lolakenyascreen.org, cell 254 733 703374, 254 722 486531, 254 752 745423 or tel 254 20 315258, 254 20 2213318.

Event Contacts

director@lolakenyascreen.org
0733 703374, 254 722 486531, 254 752 745423
http://www.lolakenyascreen.org/

Dates: 22 - 26 July 21011

REDSEA-ONLINE Cultural Foundation, in collaboration with other Somaliland cultural organizations, is eager to announce the Fourth Hargeysa International Book Fair (HIBF) which will take place from 22 to 26 July 2011 in Hargeysa.

HIBF is the main cultural event in Somaliland and one of the largest public celebrations of books in East Africa. Every July, HIBF brings writers, poets, artists and thinkers from Somaliland and from all over the world to share and discuss their art and literary productions with the audience. The main aim of the festival is to promote a culture of reading and writing in the country, by producing and publishing high quality Somali literature and translating international classical literature, (including fiction, poetry and drama) into Somali. We aim to enable young people to access a range of cultural heritages; our intention is to stimulate the revival of all forms of art and human expression, including painting, poetry reciting, story-telling, drama composition and of course, writing. The Book Fair is linked to its sister London's Somali Week Festival which takes place in 22-26 October.

HIBF targets not only to young audience, but to a wider sectors of the society, and it aims to help foster cultural understanding, tolerance, democracy, and an appreciation of the diversity of Somali culture and literature. In the past few years, our festivals raised the profile of reading and writing and also the integration in Somaliland of youth from different regions around the country. The main aim of the book fair in fact is to promote critically thinking culture and creative writing, to facilitate the habit of reading, to display books, from both local and writers abroad, to encourage members in the public to browse, read, engage with authors, be inspired to young people, and wider society.

Each year a theme, associated with and relevant to the issues surrounding youth and citizenship, is selected. The overall cultural programme this year will revolve around the theme of “Collective Memory.” Somaliland will be celebrating its 20 years of independence and hence the theme will touch upon events and processes that have shaped Somalilanders’ collective memories of the country. Our aim is to reflect on but also contribute to the creation of a national collective memory, through the arts. The project, this year, aims to produce its own culturally rooted literature on this theme by publishing different books, and to write a monologue drama on Somaliland's recent history: Topics such as the peace negotiation process, de-militarization, democracy and the growth of political parties, will be touched upon. Furthermore, the diversity of individual’s experiences of the new nation-state will also be captured through discussions, testimonies and different artistic genres, thus contributing to the creation of a collective memory.

The theme: Collective Memory

Contemporary usage of the term collective memory is traceable to Emile Durkheim (1858 – 1917) and to his student Maurice Halbwachs (1877 – 1945). Distinct from individual memory, collective memory is shared, passed on and also constructed by a group or modern society to shape their national identity. Parts of the collective memory for a nation can be represented in a physical monument, commemorative symbols, rituals, story-telling or media production, including literary creating, fiction and non fiction production, oral poetry and so on. Both “history” and “collective memory” are publicly available social facts. The difference is, while the classical history is something “dead” and confined to the past, the collective memory is something “alive” and it can be viewed as real or current history hidden in the people’s memories, experiences, testimonies, and human stories. Whilst history can explain the actors and times (who and when) of an event, it cannot capture the original emotion caused by the event. Preserving and archiving collective memory will afford people an opportunity to revisit the event and prolong its presence. We want people of different ages, different backgrounds, writers, thinkers and youth to focus on a common and shared collective memory that creates the foundation of the nation and of a national identity.

The format

The basic idea of the Book Fair is to celebrate and promote the culture of reading and writing, to create a platform where authors and other artists meet their readers and the general audience. We intend to create and facilitate an atmosphere of dialogue where ideas circulate and constructive and educational debates take place. There will be book launching events, readers clubs work presentations, meeting with authors, creative writing lessons, joyful and relaxing moments with Somali lyricists, video-screening, and poetry reciting. There will also be other parallel cultural events, covering other art genres, such as a photo exhibition and an art exhibit showcasing talented young painters in Somaliland. The overall programme will be carefully crafted to stimulate and inspire people of all ages and backgrounds.

CORE EVENTS

• A high profile debate and discussion forum, organized and attended also by young people, is one of the main events of the book fair. These series of debates cut across generations, and each year youth delegations from different regions across the country gather to create a unique forum through which audience and authors meet to exchange thoughts and opinions.

• Another highlight of the cultural program is the presentation of the yearly Sheeko iyo Shaahid literary award, reserved for young short story writers. Whilst this competition is aimed at young people, we have opened it to anyone under the age of 40. We believe some older writers never had the opportunity to develop their literary skills, as the country was at war for 15 years. This year we expect even more participation, based on the trends set in the past three years. Books containing the winning stories of the past years have been published and the event has been created and followed by many young people. The 4th edition of the under-40s short story writers will be launched and an award will be presented to the authors of last year’s Sheeko iyo Shaahid competition. Volume three of the series, comprising the winning stories from last year’s competition, will be distributed to the participants of the 2011 competition, the winners of the previous competitions and all the participants of the 2010 competition.

• HIBF-2011 will introduce the “moving library” tour, which will commence a week prior to the Festival. A bus carrying books and representatives of 9 regional Readers Clubs will tour all major cities in the country prior to the festival (members of these clubs work throughout the year presenting books to local communities). In every city there will be an event in which the readers clubs and the other youth organizations will promote the books, and encourage participants and local citizens to embrace reading as a hobby. There will be “darandoorri” (reading together) sessions in which selected national and international renowned literature will be read by young people e.g., some members of the readers clubs will read excerpts of George Orwell's “Animal Farm” translated by late Mohamed Yusuf Arten and re-published by Ponte Invisibile as well as other books by authors participating on the tour. Books will be distributed to the cities and villages along the routes of this tour, and lyrical composition, specifically commissioned for event, will be performed in every city. After the tour, the regional youth and readers clubs representatives will go to Hargeysa, and showcase their work at the book fair. They will also be asked to make their work relevant to the theme of collective memory.

• Short courses: writing and photography. Due to a lack of adequate training available to young journalists and the new members of the reading clubs we intend to organise short writing courses for those struggling with the language. Our aim is engage a small group of 18 young writers and reporters (1 member from each of the Reading clubs, 5 from Somaliland press and the 12 winners of the Sheeko iyo Shaahid) to provide language, grammar and creative writing workshops. As our idea is to promote different forms of arts among the young people, and to create artistic skills, we identified this year the necessity to promote also skill in photography. Thus, an intensive photography course for 7-10 young people will be also be organized before the book fair. The course attendees will volunteer as photographers of the book fair.

• Book launching. A number of new books published specifically within this year's book festival will be launched and world-renowned authors will be invited. We will also invite and encourage the launch of other new books authored by local writers. Over four days sessions, books will be on display and people will have an opportunity to read, review and purchase books from the publishers/books sellers/authors who may want to take their literary production in the book fair. The books launched throughout the festival will touch on various aspects relating to the theme of collective memory. Exploring experiences both within Somaliland and across the Diaspora, the books will investigate a range of topics including historic events, socio-economic changes, citizenship, identity and modernity and tradition. The programme of the events will include all books that will be launched during the HIBF. If you know about a book suitable to be launched or you are author of one, please contact to the organizers before 1 April 2011 so I can be included into the programme.

• Video screenings. Last year’s video documentation will be screened. The video shows how young people in Somaliland think on about the theme of citizenship. They explained with their own words and definitions.

SPECIAL EVENTS

• Opening and closing events with music and poetry reciting. To enhance the books fair's festive and educational atmosphere, poets and lyricists will be invited to entertain the audience in a great festive yet educational event on the opening and closing days. There will be a stage event both in opening and closing day.

• Commemorating Madar: a young and talented painter. Madar Osman was young artist and a teacher, who only last year demonstrated a unique talent. Unfortunately Madar died in a car accident soon after the Hargeysa International Book Fair and Mooge Festival of 2010. This year we will showcase his art production and some of his most interesting works will be displayed during the book fair.

• The Science Awareness Day. The Science Awareness Day is significantly important to Somaliland's development in the long terms. Somaliland needs to move shift its emphasis on manufacturing nation rather than the notion of relying on other nations' gift aids. With the motto "Science for Sustainable Development', the Day hopes to mobilise the energy and resources of the diaspora community to effectively contribute to development of Somaliland.

• Photo exhibition: Somaliland faces. Professional photographers and photojournalists will be invited to display their photographs of the people and the land.

PRE AND POST LITERARY PRODUCTION

A number of books will be published and/or translated into Somali before the Hargeysa International Book Fair, and they will be delivered to Hargeysa in time in order to be launched during the book fair. These include books specifically related to the theme of the year and commissioned by the organizers (see in the programme of events the list of books being published this year).

After the book fair, several materials will be published, including:

o Proceedings book on the Book Fair, including all the papers presented
o Educational material for the Creative Writing course.
o Volume four of Sheeko iyo Shaahid winning stories collection. This competition is a flagship asset for our cultural program, and is intended to inspire the youth to get involved in critical thinking and in composing, storytelling, preserving and participating in Somali culture and arts.
o Audio-visual: A DVD Documentary Film containing the Moving Library Tour, the drama and lyrics produced for the reading promotion, and the major events of the HIBF-2011.

All materials produced during and for the Book Fair, including the documentary film and printed literature, will be presented in our sister Somali Week Festival 2011 in October and then in several other European countries including Denmark (November 2011), The Netherlands (December 2011) and January 2012 (Italy).

Guest of honour country

As in the past years, HIBF will host a guest country by inviting writers and publishers of that country. Literature from and on that country will be displayed during the book fair. For this year’s festival, we are exploring the best option among a set of guest honour countries.

Keynote speakers, guest authors and artists

HIBF-2011 will feature prominent national and international authors, artists and speakers, including Somaliland based authors, diaspora based authors as well as internationally celebrated authors who will present their literature. The invited keynote speakers will be announced soon. In the meantime, the organizers invite all authors and publishers who may want to present their literature to contact them before 1 April 2011. Please send your inquiry to jama@redsea-online.com.

Venue: Guriga Shaqaalaha, Hargeysa, Somaliland.

Event dates: July 22 - 26, 2011

Event hours: 09:00 A.M. – 8:00 P.M.

Dates: 14 - 19 March 2011

Twenty-one prominent writers from a dozen different countries, will converge on Durban for a thought-provoking week of literary dialogue and exchange of ideas at the Time of the Writer international writers festival from 14 to 19 March. Hosted by the Centre for Creative Arts (University of Kwa-Zulu Natal) and with principal funding from the National Lottery Distribution Trust Fund, this 14th edition of the festival, presents a packed programme of both day and evening activities. 'Freedom of Expression' will feature as an underlying thread within the festival and audiences can expect to hear the opinions of leading writers on creative processes which inform their writing as well as on the enabling or constraining forces of political, social and environmental contexts within which they write.

The festival's Opening Night Keynote Address will be delivered by the recently retired Constitutional Court judge, esteemed writer and cultural activist, Justice Albie Sachs. The award-winning author of a number of books, including Soft Vengeance of a Freedom Fighter and Justice in South Africa, Sachs was instrumental in the process of writing the constitution of South Africa and is therefore eminently qualified to speak on the festival theme of Freedom of Expression.

Evening Activities

Following the opening night at which all writers present brief introductions, double-bill readings and panel discussions will take place nightly at the Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, preceded by book launches and live music.

Tuesday 15 March will feature British-born American Raj Patel food activist and author of internationally-acclaimed Stuffed and Starved: The Hidden Battle for the World Food System, and his most recent offering, The Value of Nothing. Patel has been active in South African affairs and was a visiting scholar at the University of KwaZulu-Natal in 2009. Joining him in a discussion entitled Ugly/ Beautiful, Stuffed and Starved will be South African leading cultural commentator and author of the award-winning Ugly/Beautiful: African and Diaspora Aesthetics, Sarah Nuttall, with her reflections on contemporary society.

Also shining a spotlight on contemporary South Africa on the same night is author and journalist Lauren Beukes, whose novel Zoo City, has been described as "intelligent and witty urban writing for the 21st century." Popular Durban-based author of The Lotus People (which won the 2001 Sanlam Literary Award for an unpublished novel), Aziz Hassim, joins Beukes in a discussion entitled Life in the Inner City.

Leading intellectual and award-winning writer Njabulo Ndebele, author of 'Fools' and other Stories, The Cry of Winnie Mandela and others, will, together with provocative post-colonial thinker and academic Achille Mbembe, tackle the heady topic of A Promise Delivered or a Nation Betrayed: Literature as South Africa’s Conscience. Cameroon- born Mbembe is a profound voice in contesting clichéd Western perspectives of Africa.

Ndebele and Mbembe appear on Wednesday 16 March, the same evening that a foregrounding of African culture will take place in the presentations by Petina Gappah (Zimbabwe) and Ellen Banda-Aaku (Zambia). Gappah’s debut collection of heartfelt short stories, An Elegy for Easterly poignantly describe the strained everyday living of Zimbabwe's people, and this award-winning book has already been translated into six languages. Primarily a children’s writer, Ellen Banda-Aaku’s first novel, Patchwork - an emotive tale of a young girl's journey towards coming to terms with her identity - won the 2010 Penguin Prize for African writing.

French writer Marie Darrieussecq’s best selling debut novel Truismes (Pig Tales) - a postmodern tale about the gradual transformation of a woman into a sow - explores the human state in the most bizarre and fantastical of ways. Matching her for a session titled 'Painting the Psyche' on Thursday 17 March is award-winning artist Ondjaki from Angola, whose evocative work as a poet, documentarian, prose-writer and actor posits him a versatile talent.

Writing from the currently tumultuous context of Egypt, Sahar El Mougy, in a feminist perspective, articulates the conflict between the values of the west and traditional gender roles in the Middle East. In a hot topic session (Thursday), El Mougy will pair up with Durban-born Azad Essa in a discussion entitled Writing Revolution to unpack the role of writers in the scenarios unfolding across the region. Currently working for Al-Jazeera in Qatar, Essa’s provocative 2010 book Zuma's Bastard, offers a fresh perspective around South African race politics and religion.

Two highly accomplished immigrants who have made their mark on the UK literary scene and world-wide, will take to the stage on Friday 18th March. Originally from the Caribbean island of St.Kitts and author of numerous award-winning books, Caryl Phillips, whose extensive writing oeuvre ranges from non-fiction and fiction to theatre, radio and television documentaries teams up with prolific Nigerian novelist and playwright, Biyi Bandele, in unpacking Roots and Routes.

Also on 18 March the genre of the 'crime thrillers' brings together Sifiso Mzobe and Diale Tlholwe, in a panel titled Muti Noir. Exploring the life of a young car hijacker in KwaMashu, Mzobe's Young Blood offers a glimpse into the emotional landscape of someone deemed by society, a 'criminal'. Recipient of the 2010 South African Literary Award and described by South African established thriller-writer, Deon Meyer as "superb", Tlholwe's Ancient Rites, within the frame of a detective story, navigates the contrasting worlds of the real and the spirit; the urban and the rural.

Prolific Senegalese writer Boubacar Boris Diop and German writer and filmmaker Torsten Schulz will discuss The Pen as a Weapon against War on the closing night of the Time of the Writer. Diop’s work of fiction, Murambi, the Book of Bones, deals powerfully with the issue of memory around the Rwandan genocide, while Schulz’s novel Boxhagener Square, which won numerous awards and was made into a film, is set in the context of post-war Germany.

Chris van Wyk and Etienne van Heerden will culminate this year’s festival with a discussion on Re-Inventing Memory Through Literature. Van Wyk has an extraordinary knack for telling heartwarming stories of often comical personal experiences against the backdrop of critical periods in South African history. Van Heerden, with his work published in over sixty anthologies in South Africa and overseas, together with an acclaimed string of novels, poetry and essays, is one of the huge icons within Afrikaans literature.

Tickets are R25 for the evening sessions, R10 for students on presentation of a student card. Tickets can be booked through Computicket Tel: 083 915 8000 or 011 340 8000, or purchased at the Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre from 18h30.

Day Activities

A broad range of day activities in the form of free seminars, workshops, including a full-day Publishing Forum on 17 March, book launches, school visits, and a prison writing programme, take place to promote a culture of reading, writing and creative expression and broaden access to the participating writers.

Find the full programme of activities and paticipant biographies on our website www.cca.ukzn.ac.za or contact the Centre for Creative Arts for more information on 031 260 2506/1816.

The 14th Time of the Writer festival is supported by the National Lottery Distribution Trust Fund (principal funder), the Department of Arts and Culture, the City of Durban, the French Institute of South Africa, Humanist Institute for Development Cooperation (HIVOS), National Arts Council, Goethe-Institut of South Africa, Adams Campus Books, Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre and the University of KwaZulu-Natal.

There is a Place is a riveting collection of poems by ten fertile wordsmiths anchored to the Northern Cape, either as residents or observers. In this slim volume edited by Vonani Bila, the stunning poets seem to concur that the gaping big hole in Kimberley is a painful site that reminds the poor and working class communities of South Africa’s glaring economic inequality and the brutality of Apartheid’s mining industry. The poets recount their memories of the city of Kimberley, the Northern Cape landscape in general and of course the heroic scribe and struggle icon Sol Plaatje in such a breathtaking manner.

Other concerns that worry these young and emerging poets include xenophobia, the worsening of farm worker conditions, domestic cruelty against women and children, foiled reconciliation, corruption in the tender system, HIV/Aids that’s devouring the nation before our eyes and the shameful consumption tendencies of the black petty bourgeoisie who possibly make departed liberation fighters like Steve Biko, Oliver Tambo and Robert Sobukwe turn on their graves.

Although this collection does not pretend to represent the entire body of writing in the Northern Cape, it is fairly the latest mirror of the best new writing sprouting from the creative nucleus of the province. The Department of Sport, Arts and Culture should be congratulated for supporting this noble initiative, and for allowing Room to Read to publish this marvelous book.

What makes this collection exciting is the inclusion of extremely young voices like Gladys Oliphant, Lesego Moitsemang, Nosipho Mtabani and Priscilla Mvelase who have been active participants in the Creative Writing workshops organized by the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture. It is equally rewarding to hear the more formidable voices of David wa Maahlamela, Gontse Chaane, Sabata-mpho Mokae and Mosimanegape Sehako.

There is a Place is available from Room to Read. We hope this book will be made available in all the public libraries in the country.

Deadline: 17 September 2010

14th POETRY AFRICA 2010
International Poetry Festival
4 - 9 October 2010
Schools Poetry Writing Competition

The Centre for Creative Arts (University of KwaZulu-Natal) with principal funding from the National Lottery Distribution Trust Fund, will present the 14th POETRY AFRICA, International Poetry Festival from 4 to 9 October 2010. The evening events will take place from 4 to 8 October at the Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre (19h30), University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, and at the BAT Centre on 9 October. Workshops and seminars will be held in venues across Durban .

Poetry Africa has a long-standing commitment towards nurturing a culture of reading and writing poetry, especially amongst the youth. To this end, the festival runs a schools programme which allows learners to interact with poets as well a schools poetry writing competition. Schools visits bring established poets to schools to share their expertise while the poetry competition affords learners the opportunity to actively participate in this craft.

Learners should please submit poems by Friday, 17 September 2010 for our judges to make the final selection of winners. Entries received after this date will not be accepted.

There is no particular topic for the poems and they can be written in English, Zulu or Afrikaans. Poems must be written neatly or printed if possible. Illegible entries will not be considered. No more than 2 poems per pupil are to be submitted, with a maximum length of one A4 page per poem.

The learners with the best entries will receive complimentary tickets to attend the festival on the evening of Friday, 8 October 2010. An awards ceremony will be held where prizes will be given out, with the Mazisi Kunene Foundation awarding the prizes for the Zulu winners. Winners will also have the opportunity to read their poems. All winning entries will be displayed in the foyer of the Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre for patrons to view.

If you are a learner and would like to be involved in this competition, submit your poems, together with your school's name, teacher's name, and your school's telephone number to the Centre for Creative Arts by no later than 17 September 2010. Entries may be e-mailed to cca@ukzn.ac.za, hand-delivered to the Centre, faxed to 031 260 3074 or posted to:

POETRY AFRICA
CENTRE FOR CREATIVE ARTS
UNIVERSITY OF KWAZULU-NATAL
DURBAN
SOUTH AFRICA
4041

Poetry Africa (Centre for Creative Arts, University of KwaZulu-Natal) is funded by the National Lottery Distribution Trust Fund (principal funder), HIVOS, City Of Durban, Arts and Culture Trust, and French Institute of South Africa For more information on the festival or the competition, please contact the Centre for Creative Arts on 031 260 2506 or visit our website: www.cca.ukzn.ac.za

Deadline: 18 February 2011
Contact: cca@ukzn.ac.za

English and Zulu versions

The Centre for Creative Arts ( University of KwaZulu-Natal ) will host the 14 th Time of the Writer, international writers' festival from 14 th to 19 th March 2011. Supported by the National Lottery Distribution Trust Fund (principal funder), the Department of Arts and Culture and other funders and partners, the festival will bring a host of local and African authors, offering a valuable opportunity for the public to gain insight into the creative processes and perspectives which inform their writing.

Evening readings, book launches and discussions will take place at the Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre, University of KwaZulu Natal, Durban . Wide-reaching day activities, including school visits and writers workshops are spread across Durban and surrounding areas as part of the festival's ongoing effort to promote and nurture a culture of reading, writing and creative expression, particularly among the youth.

Time of the Writer invites learners to submit material for the short story writing competition to be held in conjunction with the festival. Learners are invited to engage creatively with a theme of their choice. Submissions are due no later than FRIDAY, 18 th FEBRUARY. Entries must be fictional stories and not critical essays. A maximum of 5 pages (preferably typed) are to be written in either English, Zulu or Afrikaans. Illegible entries will not be considered .

Winners will be awarded cash prizes and given complimentary tickets to attend the festival, where they will be awarded their prizes. Prizes include cash and book vouchers contributed by the Masizi Kunene Foundation and Adams Campus Booksellers. Learners who would like to be involved in this competition should submit their stories, together with the name of their school, teacher's name, and the school telephone number, to the Centre for Creative Arts. Entries may be hand delivered to the Centre, e-mailed to cca@ukzn.ac.za or faxed to 031 260 3074.

For more information on the festival or the competition, please contact the Centre for Creative Arts on 031 260 2506/1816 or email cca@ukzn.ac.za or visit our website: www.cca.ukzn.ac.za

Time of the Writer 2011 is supported by the National Lottery Distribution Trust Fund (principal funder), Department of Arts and Culture, City of Durban, Humanist Institute for Development Cooperation (HIVOS), French Institute of South Africa and National Arts Council.

Deadline: 27 March 2011

The Poetry Projection Project: A WritersCorps Film Event

Screenings: April 16 and 19, 2011

The Poetry Projection Project is a new video contest held by WritersCorps, an award-winning creative writing program for youth. WritersCorps calls on filmmakers and video artists of all ages to create work based on selected poems by WritersCorps students. Videos will be screened during National Poetry Month in April 2011 at the Mission Cultural Center for Latino Arts, the San Francisco Public Library, and online at WritersCorps.org.

WritersCorps will award two $150 cash prizes, one prize to the best film made by an adult age 21 and over, and one prize to the best film made by a young person age 20 and under. Entries will be juried by a special guest from the film industry: filmmaker Peter Bratt.

Youth ages 12 to 18 will also have the chance to create videos from their own writing in a series of workshops hosted by WritersCorps and TILT (Teaching Intermedia Literacy Tools) at San Francisco’s Main Library in March 2011. The student work created in these workshops will screen at the Poetry Projection Project, but will not be eligible for the contest. Click here for more information about the workshops.

In keeping with WritersCorps’ mission of helping youth through creative expression, the Poetry Projection Project engages filmmakers to explore the power of young people’s words and voices.

Guidelines

Videos must include the entire text or audio of one poem by a WritersCorps student, found here: Poetry Projection Project - The Poems. Videos must credit the student and San Francisco WritersCorps.

Total Running Time: Videos must not exceed 5 minutes in length, including credits.

Styles: Submissions can be in any style or genre of video, including, but not limited to, narrative, experimental, film art/video art, documentary and animation.

Family Friendly Content: Videos must be suitable for screening at family venues that are open to all ages. Accordingly, we strongly discourage film contest submissions which contain nudity, sexually explicit imagery, profanity, or graphic depictions of violence.

Screening Format: If your entry is selected for public screenings at the Poetry Projection Project, you agree to provide an exhibition copy on DVD or as a QuickTime file under an Apple ProRes 422 codec.

Entry Form: All submissions must include a completed Entry Form and Release and Agreement. If you are under 18, consent from a parent, guardian or teacher is required as well at time of submission. There is no entry fee.

Deadline: Submissions must be uploaded to YouTube by 5 p.m. PST on March 27, 2011.

Evaluation Criteria: Videos will be judged on the basis of creativity, originality, quality, and artistic merit.

Submission via YouTube: All contest submissions must be uploaded via YouTube for judging. The use of YouTube for contest submissions does not imply an endorsement of the site or its parent company by WritersCorps.

Note: You may not see your video on YouTube immediately after uploading. Uploads can take time and all videos will first be reviewed by a site moderator. Be sure your uploads are complete and visible on YouTube by the contest deadline. We recommend allowing time for unforeseen difficulties. All videos posted to YouTube will be subject to YouTube’s privacy policy and may also be subject to applicable public records laws.

Please include the URL of your video in the entry form.

Questions? Please email ppp@writerscorps.org or call 415-252-2546.

Click here for the online Entry Form.

Dates: 14 - 19 March 2011
Contact: cca@ukzn.ac.za

The written word will envelop Durban as writers from around South Africa and Africa arrive in Durban for a stimulating week of books, ideas and talk at the 14th Time of the Writer International Writers Festival (14-19 th March 2011). The festival will feature a diverse gathering of literary luminaries that will include representatives from the many branches of the art such as novelists, short story writers, humour writers, political commentators and more. The selection process is on-going.. Organised by the Centre for Creative Arts (University of KwaZulu-Natal), and with principal support from the National Lottery Distribution Trust Fund, Time of the Writer’s exciting week-long programme is much anticipated literary event.

Readings, discussions and book launches will take place nightly at the Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre at the University of KwaZulu-Natal. A broad range of day activities in the form of seminars, workshops, school visits, and a prison writing programme, are formulated to promote a culture of reading, writing and creative expression. A Schools Writing Competition will again take place, and which accepts entries in English, Zulu, and Afrikaans,and has, over the years, proved to be one of the central development components of the festival.

Time of the Writer’s extensive programme of activities and culturally diverse line-up of writers promise to deliver a dynamic literary platform for dialogue and exchange on wide-ranging themes and offers a rare opportunity to gain insight into the many facets that inform the art of writing.

Deadline: 25 May 2011

Type: Conference
Location: Plattsburgh, New York
Event Date: July 11, 2011
Application Deadline: May 25, 2011
Financial Aid Deadline: May 25, 2011
Web site: www.centerforblackliterature.org

The 2011 North Country Institute and Retreat for Writers of Color will be held from July 11 to July 15, 2011 at the Valcour Educational Conference Center overlooking Lake Champlain in Plattsburgh, New York. Cosponsored by the Center for Black Literature at Medgar Evers College in Brooklyn, New York, and the Department of English at SUNY, Plattsburgh, the conference features workshops in fiction and creative nonfiction, as well as readings and one-on-one conferences with faculty members. The cost of the conference is $600, which includes lodging and meals. Scholarships are available. Teachers can earn professional development credits. Submit up to 20 pages of prose or a chapter of a novel or memoir, a project description, and contact information for two references by May 25, 2011. There is no application fee. Call or visit the Web site for more information.

2011 Winter NCI Workshop Leaders: Bernice L. McFadden and Willie Perdomo

Fiction: Bernice L. McFadden is the author of seven critically acclaimed novels, including the classic Sugar and Nowhere Is a Place, which was a Washington Post best fiction title for 2006. She is a two-time Hurston/Wright Legacy Award finalist, as well as the recipient of two fiction honors from the Black Caucus of the American Library Association (BCALA). McFadden lives in Brooklyn, New York, where she is working on her next novel.

Poetry: Willie Perdomo is the author of Where a Nickel Costs a Dime and Smoking Lovely, which received a PEN American Beyond Margins Award. He has also been published in the New York Times Magazine, Bomb, Mr. Beller’s Neighborhood, OCHO, and African Voices. His children’s book Visiting Langston received a Coretta Scott King Honor and his follow-up, Clemente! was recently published. He has been a Pushcart Prize nominee, a Woolrich Fellow in creative writing at Columbia University and is a 2009 fellow in poetry from the New York Foundation for the Arts. He is cofounder/publisher of Cypher Books. Visit his Web site at www.willieperdomo.com.

North Country Institute and Retreat for Writers of Color, Center for Black Literature, 1650 Bedford Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11225. (718) 804-8883.

Deadline: 19 November 2010

Every year since 1991, the time period of November 25 (International Day Against Violence Against Women) to December 10 (International Human Rights Day) has been recognized as the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence. Throughout this period, women and youth groups, development practitioners, human rights activists, every day people like you and I, have stood up in their own way to discount gender violence and promote human rights. This year's theme focuses on violence in the context of conflict, and with gruesome instances like the high incidence of rape in Congo, it couldn't come at a better time.

Since its inception in 2005, AWOMI has worked with local African women and youth on issues pertaining to gender violence and human rights. During our biannual Young Women's Knowlegde and Leadership Institute (YOWLI), young activists from Africa and the Diaspora are trained on gender violence issues like rape, female genital mutilation, domestic violence and so on. Such workshops not only help in informing our YOWLI participants and graduates, but also promote story sharing.

YOWLI 2008 participants using silent theatre performances to depict rape during their Gender Violence training

In that vein, AWOMI would like to invite its YOWLI network - past, present (and maybe even future) - partners, and supporters to participate in the AWOMI's "Share Your Thoughts" 16 Days of Activism Campaign by submitting articles, blog posts, videos, commentary on publications, creative writing - anything really - for publication right here on the AWOMI blog.

By sharing your thoughts, experiences, concerns and so on around the theme "Structures of Violence: Defining the Intersections of Militarism and Violence Against Women", particularly as it relates to Africa, you will help put a face and voice to the millions of women who haven't the opportunity to share their stories and realities, and in so doing help reverse the trend.

YOWLI 2008 Participants using silent theatre pieces to depict domestic violence.

Some suggested topics from the 16 Days of Activism official website include:

- Economic consequences of war on women
- Women’s role in peace negotiations, peace-building, diplomacy and decision-making positions
-Abuse of sexual and reproductive rights in conflict situations
-Women and girl’s vulnerability as refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs)
-Environmental contamination by military operations and its consequences for women and children
-Suspension of rule of law and basic human rights in an “emergency”
-Military spending by government – cost-analysis compared to social programs

(For the full list, kindly visit http://16dayscwgl.rutgers.edu/2010-campaign/theme-announcement)

Submission Guidelines:

-All submissions should relate to Africa and/or the Diaspora
-Submissions can be English or French
- Entries should be a maximum of 500-700 words (for written submissions) or 5-7 minutes (for audio and video)
-Please include your full name, age, and nationality with your submission. If you are part of the YOWLI network, include your country chapter and/or year of participation
-Entries should be sent to awomiweb@gmail.com by Friday, November 19 at 12 midnight GMT

We hope to hear from you and look forward to sharing and learning! It takes one person to influence the state of events.

The 16 Days Campaign has been used as an organizing strategy by individuals and groups around the world to call for the elimination of all forms of violence against women by:

* raising awareness about gender-based violence as a human rights issue at the local, national, regional and international levels
* strengthening local work around violence against women
* establishing a clear link between local and international work to end violence against women
* providing a forum in which organizers can develop and share new and effective strategies
* demonstrating the solidarity of women around the world organizing against violence against women
* creating tools to pressure governments to implement promises made to eliminate violence against women

Health Print Journalism Trainer

Location: Nairobi, Kenya

This is a local national position. For our locally hired overseas positions, benefits are consistent with local office policy and are not necessarily consistent with benefits listed for our other positions.

BACKGROUND

Internews® Network is an international media development organization based in Arcata, CA and Washington, D.C. whose mission is to empower people worldwide with the news and information they need, the ability to connect, and the means to make their voices heard.

GENERAL FUNCTION

To carry out training and mentoring of journalists in Health-related thematic areas, to prepare training events and materials and to write reports on these activities.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

* Design and deliver modules of print journalism training workshops.
* Schedule post training mentoring sessions for journalists.
* Train print journalists in formal and informal settings to enable them capture health stories that meet Internews health journalism methodology and standard of quality.
* Review existing print curriculum content and update the materials accordingly bearing in mind the current trends in journalism and relevant health areas.
* Connect classical print journalism and writing for online publications and formats, per developments in the media environment.
* Research on and recommend to management ways of improving health coverage on Kenyan media and originating appropriate training concepts.
* Establish and maintain an active contact database and strong relationships with journalists, print and electronic media houses appropriate for health related coverage on Kenya media.
* Mentor trainees on travel grant ideas and application and ensure that the stories developed are of high quality.
* Document the relevant project related activities and write project reports of training activities.

QUALIFICATIONS

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

* Bachelors degree in Journalism/ Mass Communications or other related field.
* 5 years of experience with a reputable media organization.

SKILLS AND COMPETENCIES:

* Knowledge on health issues in Kenya.
* Media savvy with a good nose for news.
* Excellent news gathering and editing skills
* Superior writing skills and fluency in both English and Swahili.
* Strong organizational skills, with proven ability to handle multiple tasks simultaneously, set priorities, and work under minimum supervision.
* Strong project documentation and reporting competences.
* Highly creative and able to generate novel and innovative ideas.
* Integrity, reliability and creativity.
* Excellent interpersonal and communication skills and the ability to work in a culturally diverse environment.
* Demonstrated superior computer skills including typing, Microsoft Office Suite applications, including Word, Excel Project, PowerPoint and using the internet.
* Good qualitative and quantitative research methods skills, content analysis, strong analytical and interpretative skills.
* Grant writing skills will be added advantage.
* Experience working in both radio and TV will be an added advantage.

TO APPLY

Interested candidates meeting the qualifications should forward a cover letter and resume to hr.kenya(at) internews (dot) org (re-write in standard format), placing “Health Print Trainer” in the subject line. EOE M/F/D/V

Date: 25 March 2011

Aspiring Filmmaker Series: Scriptwriting and Directing Masterclass

BLUES & HILLS Consultancy and Africa Film Academy call for interested aspiring filmmakers to register for the Scriptwriting and Directing Masterclass Workshop, to be facilitated by Indian filmmaker and cinematographer, Naresh Sharma on 25 March, 2011 at Niger Delta Wetland Centre, Ekike, Yenogoa, in Bayelsa State. He will be joined by Nigerian filmmaker, Bond Emeruwa and Indian creative writing teacher, Jose Varghese.

Mr Sharma is the Director of Centre for Research in Art of Film & TV (CRAFT), Delhi. After graduating from Film and Television Institute of India, (FTII, Pune ) in December of 1993, he acquired on-floor expertise while working with ace cinematographers like Ashok Mehta and Vikas Shaivaraman.

His independent works include advert films, promos, corporate and documentaries. He has worked with Grey Worldwide, Triton advertising, Bharat Bala Prods, Shot in the dark, Mise-en-scene, Squirkle, Percept Advertising, Universal Music, T-Series, Channel [ v ] ,B4U and others. He shot the music video of Nishani for popular star, Jassi. In 2001, he shot a Hindi feature length fiction directed by Senior FTII 1974 graduate batch on 35mm. In 2005, he shot 2nd feature length fiction film on 35mm Cinemascope format Sonam about the Monapa
community of Arunachal Pradesh. He is widely travelled and has facilitated workshops across the world.

For registration and further enquiries, contact: bluesandhills@gmail.com