Saturday, 3 March 2012

Home Improvements!

Well.. since spring is finally on her way and since there will be two fabulous artists joining ARC in early April; Jenna Crowder -a sculptor, designer, and writer and Keith Lane - a photographer and a writer (see links on the side bar), so I have decided to do some home renovations and am re-va va vooming the balconies and guest bedrooms. As possibly all home improvements that are carried out by one's significant other, this means that currently ARC is in a state of dishevellment with putty and paint, taken apart beds waiting to be re-put together and the plants in a temporary home in another room with the Buddha within their leafy circle ;)

Thursday, 1 March 2012

Creative Writing courses with Linda Cleary available in March at three different venues

Creative Writing courses with Linda Cleary
available in March at three different venues



The 4 week Creative Writing course acts as an extended masterclass looking at various techniques and exercises to open up and improve writing skills, work with metaphor and imagery, create texts and narratives to given themes and word counts as well as free writing.

There is no criteria other than a willingness to open up one's writing; the course is designed that people of varying writing experience can participate and each draw their individual benefits.

This above course is available at:


at Left Bank, Zamalek
Afternoon course
starting Wednesday March 7th at 1pm


8 hr Course in Creative Writing – LE 490 per student
4 sessions of 2 hours each – places limited to 15 people

Please contact Left Bank to register
tel: 2735 0014
email: leftbankonline@gmail.com

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at Diwan Heliopolis
Evening course
Starting Wednesday 14th March at 7:30 pm

8 hr Course in Creative Writing – LE 480 per student
4 sessions of 2 hours each – places limited to 15 people
Please register in advance at any Diwan store
*state the name and date of the course when booking


and at Darb 1718..
the above course with another 4 sessions added working on short story, so an 8 session course

Creative Writing & Short Story Course
Evening course

Starting Monday 12th of March at 7.30pm

To register, please call Hesham on mobile: 01117409697

Darb 1718 Course Description
This course uses various master class techniques and exercises to open up and improve writing skills, work with metaphor and imagery, create texts and narratives to given themes and word counts as well as free writing. The latter sessions focus on work on character, voice, atmosphere and plot and we read published short stories for discussion and understanding format and focusing on the necessary elements for each student to produce a final draft of a 1000 word narrative.
There is no criteria other than a willingness to open up one's writing; the course is designed that people of varying writing experience can participate and each draw their individual benefits.

Workshop targets
Improves, consolidates and opens creative writing and writing a short story through various masterclass exercises, specific techniques and discussion

------------------------------------
The Tutor
Linda Cleary is a poet - writer – performer, originally from UK with a theatre background and Diploma in LAMDA Speech and Drama. As well as her own work as a writer, actor and performer she has been delivering workshops in creative writing, theatre and related arts for many years; working in Holland, Czech Republic, Australia, UK and Egypt and currently provides courses at Diwan and Darb 171. She is presently establishing anew venue and space for writers in Cairo - The Writers' Centre, and also runs several arts initiatives including, an arts residency and Up On The Roof – Open Mic Event at Darb 1718.

Saturday, 25 February 2012

Creative Writing at Left Bank

Creative Writing with Linda Cleary
at Left Bank

Zamalek, Cairo

8 hr Course in Creative Writing – LE 490 per student

4 sessions of 2 hours each – places limited to 15 people

starting March 7th Wednesday 1pm
Please contact Left Bank to register
tel: 2735 0014
email: info@leftbankonline.com


The 4 week Creative Writing course acts as an extended masterclass looking at various techniques and exercises to open up and improve writing skills, work with metaphor and imagery, create texts and narratives to given themes and word counts as well as free writing.

There is no criteria other than a willingness to open up one's writing; the course is designed that people of varying writing experience can participate and each draw their individual benefits.

The Tutor
Linda Cleary is a poet - writer – performer, originally from UK with a theatre background and Diploma in LAMDA Speech and Drama. As well as her own work as a writer, actor and performer she has been delivering workshops in creative writing, theatre and related arts for many years; working in Holland, Czech Republic, Australia, UK and Egypt and currently provides courses at Diwan and Darb 171. She is presently establishing anew venue and space for writers in Cairo - The Writers' Centre, and also runs several arts initiatives including, an arts residency and Up On The Roof – Open Mic Event at Darb 1718.

The Tree of Life

Hmmm, contented sigh as I sit on the balcony which is finally filling with warmth after these cold days in Cairo that have gone for too long and loving the tree that spreads across the street.

I haven't written a blog entry for a long time, as each day is full of activity; editing and running a plethora of Creative Writing courses with 3 a week currently taking place at Diwan and one a week at Darb 1718.

AND a new course is soon to run at Left Bank cafe, bakery, bookstore - owned by Sequoia restaurant and with an amazing modern design right on the Nile. See above post for details.

And not least the prime goal this last while has been to find a place for my new good thing: The Writers' Centre - a place for events, readings, courses, salons, surgeries, hang out, networking, chill space, private library. And there will be a membership with benefits or pay as you go and some things will be free. This centre will bring together all my activities into one space and also allow collaboration and outreach. Details as soon as it all goes through..

I am also setting up HOME - a British Egyptian real estate company for rental, buying and selling. This is with my partner Shady Mohamed who has been working a as broker in Cairo for over 2 years and has already helped find various artists longer term accommodation or studio space in the city. I'm still working on the blog but take a look! ;) http://homefindercairo.blogspot.com

Yes, spring is arriving and all is rising - the return of Up On the Roof (open mic night), creative writing courses, The Writers' Centre, HOME real estate, and more artists asking to work on projects at ARC.

I think I need more tea ;))

Monday, 26 December 2011

New Creative Writing Courses

At Diwan, Heliopolis
Creative Writing Course
by Linda Cleary


The Creative Writing course will act as an extended masterclass looking at various techniques and exercises to open up and improve writing skills.
We will work with metaphor and imagery, create texts and narratives to given themes and word counts, as well as free writing.
There is no criteria other than a willingness to open up one's writing; the course is designed that people of varying writing experience can participate and each draw their individual benefits.


4 weeks (8 hour course)
One session per week (2 hour session) on Mondays
Starting 16th January
from 7:30 pm till 9:30 pm
at Diwan Heliopolis

Price: 480 L.E
Limited number-please register at any Diwan store in advance
Age group: for adults (17 yrs +)


----------------------

At Darb 1718, Old Cairo

Creative Writing & Short Story Course

Darb 1718 for Contemporary Arts is organizing a 'Creative Writing & Short Story' Workshop operated by Linda Cleary and starting from 7.30pm Sunday 8th January 2012

Course Description
This course uses various master class techniques and exercises to open up and improve writing skills, work with metaphor and imagery, create texts and narratives to given themes and word counts as well as free writing. The latter sessions focus on work on character, voice, atmosphere and plot and we read published short stories for discussion and understanding format and focusing on the necessary elements for each student to produce a final draft of a 1000 word narrative.
There is no criteria other than a willingness to open up one's writing; the course is designed that people of varying writing experience can participate and each draw their individual benefits.
Workshop targets
Improves, consolidates and opens creative writing and writing a short story through various masterclass exercises, specific techniques and discussion
Terms of submission
Places limited to 12 people
Duration: 8 sessions of 2 hours each
Start date: 7.30pm Sunday 8th of January 2012
End date: Sunday 26th of Feb 2012
Fee: 1000 LE
For Registration
*registration must be accompanied with a 50% deposit to secure your place


Please call the mobile number 01117409697

Friday, 9 December 2011

The Month of the Archer

Helllllloooooooo!!!!

Yes, another long dip out from blogging, what can I say dear readers.. other than the truth - Life takes hold!!! :)

Soooo... OK OK OK since last writing to you all the dancer Leena Vaswani stayed, danced, glittered and then left for India some weeks ago, Florin Dan a Romanian poet came to stay (links on side) and we will hopefully engage in an exchange project next year. Two veritable and interesting artists; Ronnie Close and Yvonne Buchheim (links on side) visited ARC and were introduced to several writers and artists - Ronnie will be coming back to live in Cairo in a month's time and take up a cool job as Professor of Photography at AUC (we bow down..) :)) and Yvonne will do lots of groovy things here - watch this space. And next Wednesday Leena Chauhan will come for a month's residency and work on a project. Looking forward*** ;))

I finished a load of courses, am now starting new ones up and will also be managing workshops, events and arts initiatives with Darb 1718. I also started wearing day-glo nail varnish, went to Wadi Hitan (Whale Valley) and after a huge stint of Russian literature followed by Camus I decided to come into the decade with Irvine Welsh. I also got a lovely blue bag ;))

My new courses are, first one first - starting Saturday 10th December (tomorrow!):

Creative Writing Course

The Creative Writing course will act as an extended masterclass looking at various techniques and exercises to open up and improve writing skills.
We will work with metaphor and imagery, create texts and narratives to given themes and word counts, as well as free writing.
There is no criteria other than a willingness to open up one's writing; the course is designed that people of varying writing experience can participate and each draw their individual benefits.

4 weeks (8 hour course)
One session per week (2 hour session) on Saturdays
Starting 10th December
from 7:30 pm till 9:30 pm
at Diwan Heliopolis

Price: 480 L.E
Limited number-please register in advance at any Diwan store
Age group: for adults (17 yrs +)

Thursday, 3 November 2011

Hello Again & The 4th Floor Project!!!

Hello All!

Yes, it has been a long time but that's the Cairo bubble that sometimes happens!

So I am back (not that I went away) and I have moved again, now in another spacious and lovely new abode which you can read about on the page link All About ARC & Your Stay at ArtHome at top of this one or follow this:

http://artsresidencycairo.blogspot.com/p/all-about-arc.html

So - new news.. well I moved house again, I've been giving 5 writing courses a week, Leena the Indian dancer came back to stay, I've been exploring expansion opportunities and various art initiatives, Up On the Roof has continued to shine - what else... well, that's quite a lot! :))

And now I am up horrendously early as I am excited about my new project The 4th Floor.

The 4th Floor is the latest art space and residential available via ARC. Situated in a classic featured original building opposite The Egyptian Museum, Downtown Cairo - The 4th Floor comprises of a large 3 bed room with balcony, high ceilings and wooden flooring and its own conservatory style studio/workspace adjacent to the room with a bank of windows allowing a flood of light and a downtown view into the studio. Shared bathroom and kitchen facilities. The cost of staying at The 4th Floor is 70 LE per person per night or 200 LE for the private use. The cost includes the studio use and free wireless.

So!!!! Book in and be in the downtown groove!

*ARC continues to accept guests at ArtHome as usual.