03 March 2021
Common Currency Writer in Residence
Dublin-based Syrian storyteller Suad Aldarra announced as Common Currency Writer in Residence as part of Cúirt International Literature Festival 2021 in a new partnership with English PEN and Irish PEN.
Announcement comes as English PEN announces Common Currency programme to mark 100th anniversary.
Common Currency is a celebration of freedom of expression, creative campaigning, and the best literature the world has to offer to mark the centenary of the PEN movement organised by English PEN. It seeks to ignite a conversation around issues of freedom of expression, led by writers and readers.
Cúirt International Literature Festival, English PEN and Irish PEN/ PEN na hÉireann are working together in the spirit of the PEN charter that ‘literature knows no frontiers’ to provide an opportunity for a writer from the MENA region resident in Ireland to be the Common Currency Writer in Residence during the 2021 Cúirt International Literature Festival.
Following an open call earlier this year it was today announced that Suad Aldarra will be the Common Currency Writer in Residence at Cúirt Internation
This announcement came today as English PEN announced details of the Common Currency programme to mark their 100th anniversary. One of the world’s oldest human rights organisations, English PEN was originally established in 1921. This year, to mark the 100th anniversary, the Common Currency programme will mark the milestone in a unique programme of in person and online events, residencies and workshops exploring freedom of expression, creative campaigning and showcasing the world’s greatest literature. https://www.
English PEN are partnering with arts organisations across the UK and Ireland with the aim to ignite a truly nationwide conversation. The full list of Common Currency partners are Bristol Ideas, Cúirt International Literature Festival, Irish PEN/ PEN na hÉireann, Hay Festival, Institut Français, Metal, Literature Works, The London Library, New Writing North, Nottingham UNESCO City of Literature, Off the Shelf Festival of Words, Ripples of Hope Festival and Southbank Centre. It will be a year-long programme inclu
The Common Currency Writer in Residence is delivered in partnership with Cúirt International Literature Festival, English PEN and Irish PEN/ PEN na hÉireann in collaboration with the British Council.
Irish PEN/PEN na hÉireann: The aims of Irish PEN/PEN na hÉireann are: to promote literature in and about Ireland both nationally and internationally; to defend worldwide the right of writers to responsible freedom of expression as defined in the PEN Charter; and to foster international understanding through the appreciation of literature.
More about the programme for English PEN HERE
Suad is taking part in two events in the Cúirt 2021 programme:
