We’re really pleased to support Ali Al-Jamri’s excellent new project Between Two Islands:

Between Two Islands – Poetry Writing Workshops for Bahrainis in Britain

Between Two Islands Arabic Version

What does it mean to be Bahraini in the UK? How does it effect our relationship to our homeland? What are the things we crave, the truths we have discovered, the things we have had to create for ourselves? Some of us see our time in the UK as temporary; some of us are as British as we are Bahraini. But for all of us, the British isles are our home today.

This project, funded by Arts Council England, is a first of its kind: a creative writing space for Bahrainis living in Britain.

Through poetry, we will unlock our creative voices. Each week, we will explore a different aspect of poetry, from form and function to editing and performance.

Beginners are welcome and encouraged to join – no experience necessary!

The workshops will run over six weeks in January/February 2021. They are for you if you are:

• aged between 18 and 81
• a Bahraini who immigrated to the UK for work or study, was born to immigrant parents, or came to the UK as a refugee
• an English or Arabic speaker
• interested in writing and creative arts

They will be led by Ali Al-Jamri and Amina Atiq.

Ali Al-Jamri is a Bahraini and British poet and writer. He was a semi-finalist in BBC Words First 2020, and his translation of “The Desire of Life” by Abu Al-Qassim Al-Shabbi was published by Modern Poetry in Translation. His a notable contender in the Bristol Short Fiction Prize.

Amina Atiq is a poet, performance artist and activist from Liverpool’s Yemeni community, one of the oldest Arab communities in the UK. A BBC Words First 2019 Finalist and Young Associate for Curious Minds, she is currently a Poet in Residence for Queensland Poetry Festival 2020-21 and working on a new online project, Yemeni Women on the Frontline.

To join, complete our registration form by Wednesday 30 December.

Further information:

• The workshops will be conducted over 6 weekends in January and February 2021.
• We ask that participants commit to the full six-week programme.
• Workshops will be conducted via Zoom due to pandemic measures. This may be reviewed.
• To be inclusive, we offer a participation fee and travel cost reimbursement. We value your time and want to make this event as accessible, particularly if you have childcare, study and work responsibilities to juggle.

We would like to thank the Arts Council England for funding our project as well as partner organisations, mentors and supporters at the Arab British Centre, Liverpool Arab Arts Festival, Young Identity Manchester and Commonword and the community centre Dar Alhekma for making this work possible.