This is the very first workshop conducted by the best-selling, award-winning author, open to members of the public. The workshop will be held in an open platform format over four session (each two hours long) – more details on the workshop will be send to potential participants.

FEES: BD40

Send your contact details and a little bit about yourself (and your writing) to elhambahrain@yahoo.com or ali.alsaeed@yahoo.com

DEADLINE FOR REGISTRATION MARCH 15
SEATS ARE LIMITED – reserve your place today!

Participants will have the opportunity to learn more about the skills, techniques and styles of writing fiction, focusing on short stories and novels, and be encouraged to produce new writing or complete a work in progress during the workshop. They will also get an insight into the process of writing and its essential components such as plot, character, pace and tone. Al Saeed will also give tips to budding writers on the current trends in the publishing industries and the various ways of getting published.

“My approach to writing is not academic. So the workshop won’t be linear, but instead will build on the idea of honing your imagination as a skill and get you to lose your inhibitions as a writer,” explained the award-winning writer, “It should be fun, after all.”

Al Saeed is the award-winning author of three critically-acclaimed books, QuixotiQ, Moments and Sad Man Dancing. The workshop is being held in conjunction with the launch of his latest book, a creative non-fiction book titled, The Randomist. He has also conducted talks and workshops in Bahrain and abroad. His work has been published internationally in various literary journals, magazines and anthologies.

The workshop is one of several events building up to Elham’s upcoming major event, the third edition of its annual alternative arts festival held between May 5^th to 15^th. The Elham Arts Festival 2010 will feature a wide range of performative and visual arts, live music, film screenings, art exhibitions, talks and a number of workshops conducted by local and international artists.

“All our workshops, including this one, will focus on producing work, collaboration and interaction. They will be a unique experience for the participants,” said Elham event manager Sarah Sulaiman, “Participants in this workshop will also have the opportunity to take part in the festival and read their work to the public.”

The sessions for the creative writing workshop by Al Saeed will be held on Saturdays from 10.30am to 12.30pm at a venue yet to be confirmed. Registration fee is BD40 and is open until March 15. Seats are limited. To register send an email to elhambahrain@yahoo.com or contact 39416121.

Egyptian Bahrain-based artist Jehan Saleh, who has been working with Albareh Art Gallery for the past five years, held her first solo exhibition at the Bahrain Contemporary Art Society last year. Jehan has been a student and observer of the many great artists who have passed through Albareh throughout the years. Her work embodies both sensitivity and transparency that reflect her own personality.

Joining Jehan is a young, bright Bahraini talent. Masooma Al-Noaimi is a 16-year-old student, whose paintbrush knows no limits. Her abstract paintings, filled with vibrant colors, usually speak of her past experiences. Her work will always hold strong and inspiring messages. She has participated in many art fairs and competitions, seeking new experiences to enrich her skills. “After all,” she says. “To me, art is the easiest language and paints are my survival tools”.

Poetry is the other field in which Masooma has ventured into from an early age since the age. She enjoys writing both, English and Arabic Poems. Masooma has also recently started to get behind her camera’s lens more often. Her photography captures the beauty of those unseen moments of everyday life.

Born in New Jersey, Mohammed Elmeshad, was exposed to American culture and literature from an early age. He had his first writing book at the age of five. After spending six years in Egypt during which he began to pen his stories, fiction, prose and doodles, as a teenager. After a short stint in Bahrain, Mohammed returned to the US to persue his higher studies in Washington DC and then spent two years with the Peace Corps in Benin and West Africa. Mohammed is currently “working on a desk in a cubicle in Bahrain”. Mohammed will read some of his fiction at the event.

“We’re always on the lookout for new talent and hope that people make the most of it. We want people who are serious about their art and who are committed, always open to bring in new, fresh ideas and challenge the perception of art and creativity,” Elham founder and organizer Ali Al Saeed said.

Those interested are encouraged to get in touch via email at elhambahrain@yahoo.com. The evening will commence at 7.30pm. All are welcome and entrance is free.

Submit your music for consideration in our upcoming second volume of the critically-acclaimed compilation CD ‘MuseLand’, launched last year and featuring the likes of hot talent Ala Ghawas, The Tryout and Silverlake. And if that’s not enough, your band can end up performing LIVE on stage in front of hundreds of fans as part of Elham’s major arts festival in May 2010.

Deadline for submissions: 28 February 2010

1) Open to ALL local bands/musicians
2) Email MP3 format in high quality (up to 3 songs each)
3) Must be ORIGINAL recording (NO covers accepted)
4) Include all contact details with your submission (name, email, mobile)

The event will bring together a host of talents, both recognized artists and new promising talents, led by Bahraini artist, sculptor and architect Moosa Silwadi, who had recently held his latest solo exhibition at Bin Matter House. Silwadi will be talking about his work, which is inspired by his unique architectural designs, while playing some live music.

Through the course of his career, Silwadi worked as an interior, exhibition designer and architect all of which enriched his artistic and practical perception and experience. The mystery of deconstruction, the rhythm of flamenco music and the coffee shop aroma of espresso influenced and strengthened the fluidity of his work and expression.

Accompanying him on the night will be newcomer Dinara Kadirova, the 24-year-old University of Westminster graduate who had only picked up the brush a few months ago and started producing some startlingly strong, abstract and figure-based paintings. Another debutant making an appearance is David Hollywood, who will recite some of his poetry.

The evening will conclude with a photography presentation featuring some of the finest images taken by the participants of the group’s third Photographers’ Day Out, which was held in December and led by Lebanese artist/photographer Camille Zakharia and Bahraini photographer Ahmed Al Zayer.

Al Riwaq Art Space, which officially reopened to the public last month (December), was the first venue to host Elham’s events when the group was first established in late 2006. “We’re excited about going back to Alriwaq, especially with their new wonderful space. We’ve always been proud of the great support we’ve been getting since we started from everyone but specifically Al Riwaq Art Space and Albareh Art Gallery, who also played a great part in promoting us in the last couple of years,” explained Elham founder Ali Al Saeed.

ELHAM22 will start at 7pm and everybody is welcome. Entrance is free.

It all began during the Elham Arts Festival last May, in which FACT Bahrain magazine introduced the Wall of Secerts wherein members of the public were invited to submit their confessions secretly, and they were then written on a white wall for all to see. The wall will once again be up at this event.

Now, some of these confessions will be turned into pieces of art: artists, photographers and writers are invited to partake in this experiment by selecting one of these confessions and creating a painting, drawing, photograph, poem or story based on it.

The event will also feature the works of young Bahraini fashion stylist Noor Al Shaikh, the creator of the “I Heart Vintage” store.  Noor collects vintage pieces of fashion from the 40s, 50s, 60s and 70s and creates unique outfits from them. She will showcase some of these and tell the stories of these vintage pieces, how she came to find them and what their origins are. Another participant will be 22-year-old Bahraini guitarist Ali Malik, who is a member of the heavy metal bank Re-alive, who will perform a selection of acoustic songs and musical compositions.

Those who wish to participate in transforming one of these confessions into a piece of art can contact the organizer. A selection of the produced artwork will then be considered for publication in FACT magazine.

ELHAM21 will be held on November 24^th at Qal’at Al-Bahrain Site Museum, from 7.30pm to 9.30pm. Entrance is free and all are welcome.

Elham’s second event of the new season will see it return to a favorite spot, Albareh Art Gallery in Adliya. ELHAM20 will be held on October 27th and bring together another group of artists that will engage you with their art and talent.

Bahraini 24-year-old Sarah Al Aradi, holder of a Bachelor’s degree in arts and humanities, launched herself into the local art scene earlier this year and has been making waves since. As a lover of Classical Realism Art, Sarah has been developing her own style, influenced by the likes of J.W Waterhouse, William Bouguereau, Frederic Lord Leighton, John White, Rossetti.

Shabana Feroze will be sketching faces from the crowd throughout the evening with her own unique style and show off some of her oli paintings while one-man-band The J.A.M. Project will perform for the first time in Bahrain. Started as a side project in December 2008 by Anthony Muthurajah, the band has been busy working on its first recorded, an independent E.P featuring music infusing Metal, Acoustic, Funky and Alternative rock.

Also debuting at Elham in October is journalist, poet and award-winning playwright Mahdi Salman who will recite some of his Arabic poetry. Mahdi participated in numerous poetry and theater festivals locally and regionally and has had his works published in a variety of print and electronic publications. Mahdi has also had two books of poetry published in Arabic.

The event will be held from 7.30pm to 9.30pm. Entrance is free and all are welcome.