Monday 24 December 2012

My Creative Writing courses at Diwan in January

All details on the poster.  Register by going into the Diwan store you wish to take the course and giving your name and payment.  Places limited - advance booking essential.


Thursday 20 December 2012

A New Home for the Writers' Centre!

Dear All

I am very pleased to announce that as from the end of January 2013 the Writers' Centre will have a new home within the HUGE villa that is El Mesaha Arts & Culture Centre in Dokki, Cairo. http://www.elmesa7a.org/


There will be a menu of events such as:

  • Writing salons - writers and artists gather to share, talk and present their work or ideas
  • Writers' table - a designated time that writers can come and use the space to focus on their work and also network, share if they choose
  • Writing surgeries - writers come with their current draft narrative that they are still working on and receive help to move it on
  • Creative writing courses
  • Day trips to places of literary interest in and around Cairo
  • Short residential writing trips to places of natural beauty in Egypt
  • Open mics - a platform for spoken word artists, writers and musicians to present and perform

Please keep watching here and the Writers' Centre blogsite http://www.writerscentre.blogspot.com for updates and actual event times and dates!

Monday 17 December 2012

Creative Writing Courses starting January at Diwan Heliopolis and Zamalek

Registration open now. Places limited.
Creative Writing Course
with Linda Cleary
The 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.
4 weeks (8 hour course)
One session per week (2 hour session) on Saturdays
Starting 12th January
from 7:30 pm till 9:30 pm
at Diwan Heliopolis

Price: 480 L.E
Limited number - please register in advance at Diwan Heliopolis store (and give date and course name)
Age group: for adults (17 yrs +)
----------------------------

AND EXACTLY THE SAME COURSE AT DIWAN ZAMALEK - TIMES, DATES AND HOW TO REGISTER FOR ZAMALEK BELOW
4 weeks (8 hour course)
One session per week (2 hour session) on Wednesdays
Starting 16th January
from 7:30 pm till 9:30 pm
at Diwan Zamalek

Price: 480 L.E
Limited number - please register in advance at Diwan Zamalek store (and give date and course name)
Age group: for adults (17 yrs +)
 
 

Friday 9 November 2012

Paris, Rome, Berlin and Elsewhere!

Dear Community, I want to build some contacts in Paris, Berlin and Rome (though could be other places too!).
I am thinking to go to another country next year and it would be great to meet up with other writers (and other artist mediums) and venues.
I would like to deliver Creative Writing workshops (in English) and work with a venue where I can also develop and host various literary initiatives, salons, writing surgeries, events, readings, shows, happenings etc, the kind of thing I am doing here.
Any contacts are greatly appreciated ;)) Please comment here or email me on: lindawildfire@hotmail.com
Thanks and please pass this blog www.artsresidencycairo.blogspot.com and also: www.writerscentre.blogspot.com to anyone who you think might be helpful or interested!

Lia Saile and her work with W Ü S T E N

Lia is on her last day here in Cairo and what a lovely resident she has been!  Although, I have hardly seen her as she has been so busy with the W Ü S T E N project with her colleagues Nela Adams, Marcel Saegesser and Anna Schoels.  Lia's work was to video document and take photographs of the project and these will be uploaded soon to her tumbler: http://liasaile.tumblr.com/  and also to the W Ü S T E N page on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wuestenproject

Here are just some snaps from their work:

 in the White Desert


Saleh Mohamed Mohamed in the performance at Darb 1718


some of the audience at the performance at Darb 1718

Monday 5 November 2012

New Creative Writing Courses

Creative Writing courses at Diwan Bookstores - Only 1 place left on the Zamalek course!!! Book in soon for next week at Heliopolis!!! *All details for how to register on the poster
 

Saturday 3 November 2012

WUSTEN Project and the New Resident Artist!

Well, Lia (Saille, the new resident artist http://www.scattered-sea.com) has been here for 3 days and very lovely it is too!  She is making good use of the workspace and the creative activity feels wonderfully dynamic.  She is currently making video and photographic documentation of the project she is involved with with her colleagues and that project is outlined below here as they have a performance this Tuesday 6th November at Darb 1718 and are looking for performers/dancers/musicians who would like to be involved!  Read on:

PERFORMERS / MUSICIANS needed for an artistic experiment!
Tuesday, 6th November 5pm, Darb 1718

We - three artists from Germany and Switzerland: Marcel, Anna, Nela - are looking for dancers/performers and musicians (instrumentalists) to join us for one evening. 

Three elements - movement, sound an installation- will clash.

If you want to experience this experiment directly come on
Tuesday, the 6th november, 5pm to Darb 1718 (www.darb1718.com), artistic center. 

There we will try out a performative/dance structure, with different tasks for everyone.
After a break we will put the elements (music/sound, installation, dance/performance) together and show everything at 8pm. 

No professional dance backround needed, but good to have some awareness of your body. 

Interested? please call us or write an email:

marcel saegesser: 01016830772

Attached you find our information-flyer. Thank you for consideration!

Monday 8 October 2012

Creative Writing now in Zamalek also!

Now at Zamalek also! Starting next week Monday 15th Oct. the course is already full due to demand.  But people can put their names down for the next maybe!
 

Sunday 7 October 2012

Salon The Wind Has Changed

Last week saw the arrival of Saskia Konniger, a Dutch novelist, who is on research in Cairo for her new book and staying with me at ARC *see previous posts and links to the side.  In order to introduce her to some of writer community here and also to share readings I had a salon.  It was the largest salon yet of Cairo based Egyptian writers and also included Matt Henderson Ellis, another writer, with a book soon out, visiting Cairo at this time (Matt is an Amercian living in Hungary).

Here are just a few photos from the night which saw readings and performances including spoken word, narrative, novel excerpts, dance and performance poetry :))








 

Sunday 23 September 2012

Creative Writing Course starting 2nd October at Diwan Heliopolis

The new roll out of the Creative Writing course starts on 2nd October at Diwan Heliopolis!  All details are on the poster.  Book your place by registering in any Diwan store!


Monday 10 September 2012

Creative Writing Course at Diwan Maadi

Look at all those books!!! Ahhh lovely! ;)) And of course the creative energy! :) At Diwan Maadi on the new Creative Writing course ♥



Activity!

Hello World!

Well yes, there is rather a lot of activity going on! 

Apart from the new Creative Writing courses taking place currently at Diwan Maadi and Heliopolis, I am also editing a fabulous and envy making collection of short stories (and some not so short) by the writer Omar Refaat (who is one to watch for).  I also have to dash out to a Cilantro, as their bi monthly magazine has an article by me and some inserts of poetry from some of my students.  I have been invited to contribute an article to every edition - so watch that space :)

I was recently a judge for Quotes Mania - the competition here in Cairo being organised by Farida Fakher.  The winning quote was byYomna Magdy with: "Masks you wear to deceive the others blind you first"

At the beginning of October the novelist Saskia Konniger will be at ARC for a one week stay (see post below) and then joining us at the end of Ocober for two weeks will be the mixed media and performance artist Lia Saile - links to both are to the left in the Other Pages column and Lia has a beautiful and poetic site.

Other than this I plan some Writers' Centre events over the next month (keep tuned) and in the meantime I am addicted to neon colours for my nails (healthier than my crisp addiction!).

Bye for now!  :) 

Sunday 12 August 2012

New Artist in Residence!

Hello World! 

How are you?  Are you OK?  It all seems a bit crazy these days doesn't it.. with all these people fighting all the time, destroying each other and the land, doing all kinds of lunatic stuff and so little compassion.  Ah well, we can only continue with our little worlds, doing the best we can, keeping creativity and life as our light.

And so.. we are very pleased to say that there is still life at ARC and in fact after a slow Ramadan start where it felt as if all activity had ceased the ball is now very firmly rolling!  There are many Creative Writing courses being rolled out over the next months (see all adverts as they get posted) and the Dutch writer Saskia Konniger www.saskiakonniger.nl will be coming for a week's residence at the beginning of October, as she is currently writing her new book and needs some space and an environment to do so.

There are other enquiries also and once they are confirmed I will post details of other visiting artists.

Meanwhile we have 6 days left of Ramadan and then we will have the crazy Eid for 3 days and then ahhhhhhh we can all get back to 'normal' - whatever normal is in this city!

Keep posted!  :)))

Monday 6 August 2012

Writers' Iftar - a lovely eve!

Last night was a Writers' Centre event in collaboration with El Mesa7a Arts and Culture Centre in Dokki and we had a lovely time!

We first sat in the outdoor mezzanine space, eating and chatting (yum yum to Omar's mum who makes the BEST grilled vegetable platter and spicy potatoes!) then we moved (due to the heat) to one of the rooms inside the cultural centre and started the series of readings.

Not only was it great to hear people's work, but we also had a discussion about publishing in Egypt and arrived at some future plans for integrating work into university syllabuses and other ideas.

Look out for upcoming events and news and see photos from the iftar on the photostream on www.writerscentre.blogspot.com


And here is one from the night below ;) 



Sunday 22 July 2012

Writers' Iftar


Writers' Iftar

Sunday 5th August
7pm to 9pm

at El Mesa7a Art & Culture Center, 13 El Mesaha Street, Dokki


All writers and those interested in writing are invited to this open iftar with readings from various emerging and established writers. You can also find out where to take Creative Writing courses in Cairo with Linda Cleary and find out more about what El Mesa7a Art & Culture Center can offer you.

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

Guest reader Mamdouh Sakr – Author of Diwan bestseller 'Did You Try Qat?'

and

Amira Ahmed, Nariman Youssef, Nihal Wahby, Nevine El Shabrawy, Omar Refaat,
Nadine Okasha, Monda Mahmoud, Linda Cleary

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

No entrance fee but please bring some food 
to share at iftar!


This is a Writers' Centre event in collaboration with El Mesa7a Art & Culture Center

Thursday 19 July 2012

Exploring Freedom - a 3 evening Creative Writing Workshop at Darb 1718


Exploring Freedom

a Creative Writing Course with Linda Cleary


Course details

Freedom – a much used word, certainly over the last 20 months. Yet freedom is a concept, perceived differently by each individual and with many gradients.

This 3 evening course will explore the theme of freedom, creating texts and narratives spring boarding from that. Students will learn various master class exercises to open up and improve their writing skills and work with metaphor and imagery. We will also look over some selected texts for discussion and work.

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

Course hours

3 sessions of 2 hours each

1st, 4th and 6th August

9pm to 11pm

LE 520


at Darb 1718 for Contemporary Arts

www.darb1718.com


For Registration

please contact Darb 1718 on 01117409697 to pay a deposit.
The deadline to pay is 30th of July

*Places limited to 15 people


Friday 29 June 2012

MochaLatteChiChi

Hi everyone!

Well - more of a ride on the rollercoaster.. Egypt got a new president, the weather is hot, Cairo is crazy etc etc.

On Tuesday two new artists come to stay for 10 days; a photographer Noah Addis www.noahaddis.com and a librarian/artist doing some very interesting projects Shannon Robinson www.shannonmarierobinson.com

Noah's work is well worth checking out and he will be photographing several areas during his stay in Cairo.

Shannon wishes to interview some Cairo based writers/artists during her stay.

Other than this I have several new courses running, what looks like a promising collaboration with El Mesa7a Cultural Centre and a fusion for the Writers' Centre (more soon) and Cilantro have offered me 2 pages per issue of their magazine to give writing tips and techniques - so you can read me whilst imbibing MocchaLatteChiChi!! :)

Tuesday 19 June 2012

Creative Writing Course starting at Diwan Tuesday June 26th

The new Creative Writing course starts at Diwan next week. Please see the poster for all details! :)

Friday 25 May 2012

Tree Gazing

Well I am back!!!

See the Road to Ithaca page (link on the left panel) for a summary of my trip back to UK and other more personal accounts of life here in Cairo. Here, I shall just say 'I AM HAPPY TO BE HOME', by which I mean Cairo.

And already the rollercoaster started moving! With a new Creative Writing course that started Tuesday at Diwan and has 14 students (we are getting so consistently busy over there!) and a Short Story course starting this Saturday at Diwan, 3 other courses are booked in for starting in next weeks at 2 other venues, I hope to start collaborating in some way with El Mesa7a Cultural Centre which is just on my doorstep YAY!!! and of course I have the Writers' Centre to keep working with, expanding and nurturing.

Jenna and Keith, the two artists in residence extended their stay here at ARC (they are here until early June) and completed what sounded like a very successful project at the Townhouse Gallery, downtown. I have several enquiries from artists wishing to come July onwards and am also now looking at a bigger and separate space for artists to stay and work - so it is ALL going on! :)

Meanwhile the tree is spitting dry seed pods down onto the street and balconies, every short while one hears this eruption of crackle, snap and pop, sometimes in falling popcorn bursts.

Ahhh Cairo, I am glad to be home ♥

Thursday 24 May 2012

Short Story Course starting this Saturday May 26th at Diwan Heliopolis

Dear All
For those who have already taken the Creative Writing course; a reminder that the next Short Story course begins this Saturday May 26th 7.30pm at Diwan Heliopolis.
All details are below - only some places left!

Short Story Course
with Linda Cleary

for those who completed the 4 week Creative Writing course or who have proven writing skills.

This course focuses on work on character, voice, atmosphere and plot
and we continue with further creative writing expansion techniques.

We also read published short stories for discussion and understanding format,
focusing on the necessary elements for each student to produce a final draft of a 1000 word narrative.

4 weeks (8 hour course)
One session per week (2 hour session) on Saturdays
Starting 26th May
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 (and give date and course name)
Age group: for adults (17 yrs +)

Saturday 5 May 2012

Flowers

Dear All

I hope you are all shining*

Let me focus on some recent accomplishments; I have created the Writers' Centre www.writerscentre.blogspot.com and I have been continuing delivering a plethora of creative writing workshops, see below posts for all details. Jenna Crowder and Keith Lane, the two resident artists (see side panel for links on 'Other Pages'), have been staying for the month and will stay through to mid June, whilst they deliver workshops at the Townhouse.

The balcony continues to delight with its flowers of pink, green and yellow and the beautiful tree and birds that continue to soothe my days somewhat.

I will depart next week for a short trip to UK and then return to launch various new courses, events and initiatives - so keep watching!

All best, Linda ;))

Creative Writing Course starting at Diwan Tuesday May 22nd

*Starts Tuesday May 22nd! Register soon to get your place!

Creative Writing Course
with Linda Cleary

The 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.

4 weeks (8 hour course)
One session per week (2 hour session) on Tuesdays
Starting 22nd May
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 (and give date and course name)
Age group: for adults (17 yrs +)

Wednesday 25 April 2012

Delighting in the Child - a Free Writing Workshop

Delighting in the Child - a Free Writing Workshop
at The Writers' Centre
Thursday 26th April at 1pm to 3pm
and Friday 27th April 4pm to 6pm


Impromptu event at the Writers' Centre tomorrow and Friday - rediscover your child essence and creativity. We cover so much of our creativity with responsibility, habits and thoughts - let's get back to some of our original unformed and uninformed intentions and do some writing around it!

This is a free event - a gift from my child to yours :)

Please register with me if you are coming and let me know which day ;))

Feel free to bring an instrument, paints, materials, camera - anything you would like!

*This is an adult workshop

www.writerscentre.blogspot.com Join the group on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/groups/374437262578364/

Saturday 21 April 2012

This Tuesday 24th! Launch Party of Writers' Centre!! Marhaba!!! ;))

This Tuesday 24th!! Please mark your calendar and see you there!

Please come and celebrate the opening of the Writers' Centre 7pm to 10pm! Share the event please, it is an open invite! http://www.facebook.com/events/173433632777193/

We will be having a launch with readings, spoken word performance with

Nina El Shabrawy, Amal El-Zaafarany, Zeinab Mobarak, Annie Rebekah Gardner, Zeyad Salem, Omar Refaat, Eslam Albaaly, Emily Smith, Reine Naggar, myself (!)Linda Sharbat Cleary, Yusra Badr, Nora Mortagui, Nadine Nashed, Monda Mahmoud, Amira Ahmed, Nawara Belal also music with Maurice Chammah on violin and we are very pleased to have guest star singer/poet Tamara Yousry with Mariam Ali, and Yvonne Buchheim with an acapella piece and comedy from Mo'love

Sunday 15 April 2012

Launch Party Update!

Hi everyone! OK, just over a week to go and we will have the launch party! http://www.facebook.com/events/173433632777193/ We have some great people who will be performing/reading their work; Nina El Shabrawy, Amal El-Zaafarany, Zeinab Mobarak, Annie Rebekah Gardner, Zeyad Salem, Omar Refaat, Eslam Albaaly, Emily Smith, Yusra Badr, Reine Naggar, myself (!) Linda Sharbat Cleary and music with Maurice Chammah on violin and then a small ensemble orchestra with Saleh Mohamed Mohamed amongst others. If you want to read/perform please book a spot sooooooooon - remember 5 to 7 minutes maximum and there will be no mic or speakers ;))

Thursday 5 April 2012

Creative Writing Courses for Children and Teenagers starting soon

New Creative Writing courses starting soon for 9 to 11 year olds and 12 to 15 year olds. See the posters for all details!


Tuesday 3 April 2012

Writers' Centre Launch Party - Tuesday 24th April

Writers' Centre
Launch Party

Tuesday 24th April
7pm to 10pm

Please come and celebrate the opening of the Writers' Centre!
We will be having a launch with readings, spoken word performance and acoustic music.

*If you would like to read or perform please let me know!

The Writers' Centre - situated on a roof in old Cairo, with inspiration abounding, this is a space for writers to hang out and write. The centre also has a private library and an ongoing menu of events, readings, workshops, courses, salons, residencies and writing holidays.
www.writerscentre.blogspot.com

On the roof of Arabian Nights Hotel
10 Al Aaded Street (off Al Mansouria Street), El Darassa, Old Cairo

You can view a map here:
http://www.hostelbookers.com/hotels/egypt/cairo/47198/map/

Thursday 29 March 2012

New Creative Writing Course for Adults at Diwan starting April 14th

A new Creative Writing course will start at Diwan Heliopolis on Saturday April 14th. All details on the course and how to register on the poster. Merci ;)

Friday 23 March 2012

The Writers' Centre

The Writers' Centre
opening soon in El Darasa, Old Cairo
www.writerscentre.blogspot.com


A space for writers to hang out, write, use and contribute to the private library, network and share with an ongoing menu of events, readings, workshops, courses, salons and surgeries


Also offering:

Writing days out in places of inspiration and interest

Residential writing holidays to various places in Egypt such as Bahariya oasis, Nuweiba, Aswan, Siwa and Fayoum

On site residencies available to both emerging and established writers

Writing holidays at the Writers' Centre with accommodation provided in the hotel below


Choose membership with benefits or pay as you go. Some things will be free.
Menu of prices available soon

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 two different venues

Creative Writing courses with Linda Cleary
available in March at two 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 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 ;))