Alliance of Artists' Community

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About Project The Alliance of Artists Communities is joining Beirut39 in supporting a new generation of Arab writers by offering residencies to Beirut39 writers in artists communities throughout the world. Alliance residency programs support living artists in the creation of new work, in the belief that the cultivation of new art and ideas is essential to human progress. Although important new literary awards have increased the profile of Arabic literature in the Arab world and worldwide, the writers that have benefited generally have a long writing career behind them. The Beirut 39 competition set out to identify and honor writers who are at the start of their careers and who are often struggling to find a wider audience. The 39 writers that have been selected are some of the most exciting new voices of Arab literature. To-date, 22 artists' communities in 5 countries are participating in the project by offering residencies of at least one month to the Beirut39 writers. The residencies are located in urban centers and rural communities, in restored chateaus and rustic retreats, and will offer the Beirut39 an opportunity to connect with other artists-in-residence and with new audiences. Beirut39 writers will be in-residence beginning in late 2010 through 2012 and their residency experiences will be documented in a publication. This partnership is being coordinated by Alliance member-at-large Lori Wood. About Alliance of Artists Communities The Alliance of Artists Communities is the service organization for the field of artists' communities and residencies. Believing that the cultivation of new art and ideas is essential to human progress, the Alliance's mission is to advocate for and support artists' communities, in order to advance the endeavors of artists. The Alliance represents the field of more than 400 residency programs in the U.S. and 1, 000 worldwide. Artists' communities and residency programs support artists of any discipline writers, visual artists, composers, choreographers, architects, filmmakers, and others with dedicated time and space for the creation of new work. For more information, please see: www.artistcommunities.org About Beirut39 How far has Arab literature evolved, how far has it traveled? What messages are the new generation of storytellers giving us? Beirut39 inspires a fresh look at modern Arab literature. A collaboration between the Hay Festival and Beirut World Capital of the Book 2009, the project will bring together 39 of the most interesting writers of Arab heritage under 39 years of age. More information can be found at: www.beirut39.com.