My Mind Words Paper:
arab league

Deadline: 30 June 2012

In 2012 the IJP are offering for the nineth time a travel and work fellowship for up to five young journalists from the Middle East, especially from Egypt, Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, Israel and Palestine to spend a two-month period in Germany. We are doing this in cooperation with governmental institutions, foundations and sponsors in Germany and the Middle East. At the same time, the fellowship is being offered to journalists in Germany, who can apply to spend a two-month period in the Middle East.

The two work fellowships each for journalists from Germany and Israel are named in honour of the journalist Ernst Cramer and the former mayor of Jerusalem Teddy Kollek and their exemplary dedication to the intensification of German-Israeli relations.

The fellowship is intended to enable young journalists to familiarise themselves with the political issues in Germany at an early stage of their career. This will raise awareness of aspects of relations between Germany and the Middle Eastern region in future multipliers and will give them a personal insight into mentality, culture and everyday life in Germany and the European Union.

The practical part of the fellowship ensures contact with colleagues in the region, and it is hoped this contact will be maintained in future years. This is also the intention of future alumni reunions in Berlin.

MODE OF PAYMENT

The fellowship carries a single payment of 4,000 euro per person. This sum is intended to cover a large proportion of the travel costs, board and lodging. Fellows are expected to contribute a certain amount themselves. There will be no payment for the individual’s work on location as a journalist.

DATES

The fellowship begins end of October 2012 with an introductory event in Berlin together with the German fellows. This is followed by a fellowship lasting at least two months with a German media outlet.

The branch of the media (newspaper, radio, TV, magazine) will be selected by the fellows, and the actual place of work will then be decided by the organiser in consultation with the fellows. There will be the possibility to extend the stay on an individual basis.

APPLICATION

Applications, for which there is no special form, are to be submitted by June 30, 2012. The application must be accompanied by a passport photo, a detailed curriculum vitae, and a journalistic appraisal written by the head of department or editor-in-chief. The latter should support the application, guarantee temporary leave of absence for the duration of the fellowship, and serve as evidence of journalistic activity. Samples of work may be enclosed. A very good knowledge of English is expected. While a knowledge of German will naturally be welcomed, this is not an essential requirement for an application. Visa arrangements will be made with the help of the organizers.

After preliminary selection, the finalists might be invited for a selection interview. Legal action in respect of the final decision shall be barred. Notification will be sent to the successful candidates by August 25th.

All fellows undertake to write, upon their return, a report of at least three pages on their experience, activities and impressions in the country.

DATES

• Fellowship: 2 months, November/December
• Application for 2012: June 30, 2012
• Fellowship 2012: Introduction meeting in Berlin - November 1-2, 2012

For queries: freiling@ijp.org

For submissions: address applications to Middle East-Fellowships – IJP e.V., Postfach 1565, 61455 Koenigstein/Ts., Germany or by email to middleeast@ijp.org

Website: http://www.ijp.org

Deadline: 21 June 2012

Edge of Arabia and Dar al-Ma’mûn are launching a new partnership involving artist residencies and translation projects. The first steps in this collaboration are a residency at Dar al-Ma’mûn for Saudi artist Abdulnasser Gharem, as well as an Arabic edition of Henry Hemming’s monograph on his work, published in English by Edge of Arabia in 2011.

Edge of Arabia and Dar al-Ma’mûn invite translators working from English into Arabic, to apply for a month-long residency at Dar al-Ma’mûn in order to translate the monograph, Abdulnasser Gharem - Art of Survival.

GENRE OF THE TEXT: biography of Saudi artist Abdulnasser Gharem and commentary on his work. More information at http://edgeofarabia.com/publications/abdulnasser-gharem

SIZE OF THE TEXT: 22,000 words

CONDITIONS OF STAY: the selected translator will benefit from a return flight to Marrakech, single accommodation on site, meals included, a well-stocked and staffed library, and a US $ 2,800 stipend.

The translator will have an opportunity to converse with both the artist and the author of the monograph during his or her residency.

The translator is expected to finish the translation by the end of his stay at Dar al-Ma’mûn, and to remain available after the residency period for revisions to the Arabic text.

APPLICATION PROCEDURE

The application should consist of:

- A curriculum vitae

- A translation into Arabic of the text below, “Flora & Fauna”, excerpted from Abdulnasser Gharem – Art of Survival

- An indication of the translator’s earliest availability for a month-long residency in Marrakech, knowing that the residency should start no later than September 1st, 2012.

The applicant’s CV should list publications as well as previous translation work. Previous experience in writing or translating art criticism is appreciated, though by no means required.

Applications should be sent no later than June 21st, to the following email address: edge@dam-arts.org

The successful applicant will be notified by July 1st.

FURTHER INFORMATION

Dar al-Ma’mûn is an international residency center for visual artists and literary translators located in the Ourika Valley 9 Miles from the city of Marrakech, in Morocco.

Dar al-Ma’mûn is a non-profit platform for art and knowledge production, which aims at encouraging mobility and intercultural exchange. On top of its residency programs, it offers year-round cultural programming, a free library, as well as educational activities for children and adults from the neighboring area.

Edge of Arabia is an independent arts initiative developing the appreciation of contemporary Arab art and culture with a particular focus on Saudi Arabia. As a social enterprise Edge of Arabia is committed to reaching new audiences and improving understanding through a variety of platforms including exhibitions, publications and education programs targeting schools & universities.

CONTACT INFORMATION:

For queries/ submissions: edge@dam-arts.org

Website: http://dam-arts.org

When we ponder the concepts of religion and queerness, what images and issues come to mind?

In discussions involving religion and LGBT issues for QPOC, the focus in mainstream media has almost always been on Christian families, churches, and communities, and the degree to which they are homophobic or transphobic. If we hear anything about queer Muslims, it’s sensationalized e.g. a viral link about a gay Iranian man being sentenced to death, or the number of lashes you’d receive for being a “practicing homosexual” in Muslim countries.

But when do we ever hear from queer Muslims themselves, about their everyday lives, about their hardships and triumphs, their families and lovers–or, simply, what keeps them centered, devout, inspired?

Here at QWOC Media Wire, we want to hear from LGBTQI people of color, diaspora, and other ethnic/racial minorities who identify as Muslim and/or were raised practicing Islam.

Whether you’re a Muslim born into an Uygher family, are a convert from another religion, identify as a queer Muslim from an African country, were raised Muslim but identify as spiritual etc. — whatever the case may be — we want you to be able to share, in your own words, your experiences and thoughts on religion, culture, sexuality, and everyday life.

Additionally, if you practice another religion, faith, and/or spirituality that you feel isn’t as readily discussed in public forums, such as Hinduism or Sikhism, Wicca, African Traditional Religions, Baha’i etc. we would love to hear from you as well!

IMPORTANT: Please keep in mind, the purpose of this call for submissions is not to get into a religious discussion; we don’t want to debate religion, we want to hear about how many of us reconcile the various parts of our identities as diaspora, sexual minorities, and spiritual/religious people. We want to create a space where people can share their experiences, not defend them.

Submissions can be in the form of prose, poetry, a stream of consciousness, a rant, an ode, or any other form of media. What’s most important is that it reflects you, your words, your lives.

Here are some examples of LGBTQI women of color and gender non-conforming folks we’d like to hear from:

• Muslims who grew up in the global south
• Muslim feminists who also identify as queer women of color
• People who were raised in Muslim families but converted, or don’t “practice”
• People who practice religion/spirituality outside of Islam and Christianity e.g. African, Buddhism, Hinduism
• Do you identify as a QPOC and a convert to Islam?
• Do you identify as another religion that has not been focused on in queer media, such as Hinduism or Buddhism?

Please email us at submissions@qwocmediawire.com with your name, nationality, religion, how you identity ethnically, your sexual orientation/gender identity (if you wish), and what kind of piece you’d like to submit.

CONTACT INFORMATION:

For enquiries/ submissions: submissions@qwocmediawire.com

Website: http://www.qwoc.org

Deadline: 31 May 2012

Theme: Transforming Middle East Media

The Arab Spring has focused attention on the role of journalism and media in Arab societies. In many Arab countries, journalists are now operating in a different media environment. Some argue that the professionalism of some journalists has fallen far short of normative goals, a phenomenon often attributed to tight governmental control of the press. Journalism educators must help provide a "new culture" of Arab journalism that benefits from newfound freedoms, but also stresses responsible reporting, based on fundamental principles of journalism, such as independence, accuracy, and verification.

The global social media revolution has also significantly impacted and essentially transformed Middle East media. With a plethora of social media outlets, such as YouTube, Twitter, Facebook, Flickr, and Google Plus, journalists can now take advantage of the unprecedented opportunity to tell stories that would otherwise be ignored. In this new world, satellite channels regularly air YouTube videos shot on bystanders' cell phone cameras. What are the rules that should govern the use of this material by "mainstream" news sites? Does this "citizen journalism" help or hurt the journalism profession? Furthermore, one can only assume that we have only seen little of what the social media revolution has in store. New social media technologies and vehicles seem to arrive every day-which ones are here to stay, which will be institutionalized and which are just passing fads, soon to be forgotten?

The AUSACE 2012 theme aims to address these and other issues related to the unprecedented changes affecting the Arab media. We welcome abstract submissions for papers and panel submissions for public discussions.

CONTACT INFORMATION:

For enquiries: ausace2012@gmail.com

For submissions: submit online here

Website: www.ausace2012.com

Deadline: 31 May 2012

The 2012 International European Intelligence Academy (EIA) Essay Writing Competition

Subject: “How the Iranian nuclear standoff and Middle-East tensions could be addressed in the context of International Relations?”

Awards: The student / young scholar who writes the best essay will receive $500 USD, Certificate of First Award, a Trophy, and one year internship opportunity with European Intelligence Academy (EIA).

Deadline: Entries must be received by no later than MAY 31, 2012

ELIGIBILITY

1. The author of the essay shall have completed an undergraduate degree in 2011

2. This competition is only eligible for young scholars up to 30 years old (as of May 31, 2012)

GUIDELINES

1. Essays must be 1200-1500 words, Times New Roman 12pt. font, all citations required to be inline citation in MLA format

2. Competitors are required to provide a short biography maximum 700 words or 2-page CV

3. Essays must have a cover page indicating:

• category (Student or Young Scholar)
• highest academic degree earned/studying in progress
• essay title: “How the Iranian nuclear standoff and Middle-East tensions could be addressed in the context of International Relations?”
• your full name as it appears on your passport
• address
• telephone number
• e-mail
• nationality
• age as of May 31, 2012
• University that you have graduated from/or currently studying at

NB – Please note that entries missing any of the above information will not be considered.

SUBMISSION GUIDELINES

1. Entries must be submitted online via email to competition@euintelligenceacademy.org

2. Essays must be original and unpublished.

3. Essays must be written by one person. Co-authored essays are not accepted.

4. Copyright of the essays submitted will be assigned to the organizers.

CONTACT INFORMATION:

For enquiries/ submissions: contact EIA at competition@euintelligenceacademy.org

Website: http://www.euintelligenceacademy.org

Deadline: 30 May 2012

Photography has been traditionally used to document, record and preserve traces of the past such as in passports, permits and family albums. It has also been used as evidence in police work and courtrooms. Recent scholars have been interested in photography not as a record of reality but rather to understand its social function and the role photography has played in regulating modern societies through its various modes of representation. Photographic visuality can be fraught with meaning. For example, photography can be a platform to analyze the problems of working in a culture in which the feminine is defined as object for the masculine gaze. Moreover, signs of modernity, sexuality and patriarchy, to cite a few, can be identified in photographs to reveal gender, social and racial issues within a particular community. Not only can photography provide evidence for the presence of women in salient historical and social events but it can also serve as a means to analyze representation strategies and to examine complex gender relations in a particular context. Furthermore, photography can be read as a medium that empowers women by representing them as subjects/agents contrary to the broader representations of women as passive objects in photographs.

This special issue of Al-Raida on Women & Photography in the Arab World seeks papers addressing photography as a medium that challenges assumed gender roles/positions/attributes as seen in the media. It seeks contributions that examine the practice of women photographers in the Arab region as well as how women are represented in the photographs from a variety of perspectives and disciplines including arts, photo-journalism, history, anthropology, the social sciences, and cultural studies.

SUGGESTED TOPICS INCLUDE, BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO:

• Re-inventing “women” through photography
• The female as object/subject in the photograph
• Seeing through a woman’s lens
• Female authorship and subjectivity
• Female identity and the construction of self-image through photography
• Photography and feminism
• Visual autobiography through family albums (analog or digital)
• Photography and the archive
• Photography and memory
• Photography and its relationship to the public and the private
• Female desire reflected in photographs

Complete manuscripts should be prepared in English in MS Word and adhere to the Submission Guidelines they should be 6000-8000 words, including notes and references. Papers should be accompanied by an abstract of 300 words. The manuscript must contain a separate title page that should include: the title of the manuscript; the name(s) and affiliation(s) of the author(s); full contact details of the author(s); the author's brief biographical statement. All papers will be subject to anonymous double peer review following submission. Authors will be provided with feedback from the editorial committee to assist them in the further development of their scholarly work.

Please send your submission as an e-mail attachment to the issue editor, Yasmine Nashabe at the following address: ynachabe@gmail.com and to the managing editor, Ms. Myriam Sfeir, at myriam.sfeir@lau.edu.lb on or before 30 May, 2012.

ABOUT THE JOURNAL

Al-Raida is an interdisciplinary peer-reviewed journal published twice yearly by the Institute for Women’s Studies in the Arab World (IWSAW) at the Lebanese American University (LAU). Al-Raida was the first of its kind in the Arab world appearing first in May 1976, 3 years after the founding of the first institute for women’s studies in the Arab world (IWSAW).

Al-Raida publishes papers on topics across a wide range of academic disciplines that raise gender issues in historical and contemporary contexts. Through the research published, Al-Raida aims to create links across the conventional divides of scholarship and activism; "Western" and "Third World" feminisms; professionals and students; men and women.

The journal seeks both multidisciplinary and cross-cultural perspectives, and invites submissions in the form of scholarly articles, student papers and literary pieces. Papers are considered for the originality of their contribution to knowledge. In addition to publishing peer-reviewed articles, Al-Raida will continue to publish experimental pieces, testimonials, interviews, short stories, poems, and photographic essays. The journal also publishes book reviews and review articles on recent scholarly publications in the field of women and gender studies.

Articles must be based on original research or offer well grounded theoretical and methodological contributions. They must be written in a clear and concise style in English and they must not be under consideration by any other publication. The articles are submitted to a double blind peer reviewing process and must follow the style guidelines of the journal. All papers are double blind refereed and authors are provided with feedback from the editorial committee to assist them in the further development of their scholarly work.

Link: submission guidelines

CONTACT INFORMATION:

For enquiries: contact the editors at al-raida@lau.edu.lb

For submissions: email your papers to Yasmine Nashabe (ynachabe@gmail.com) and to the managing editor, Ms. Myriam Sfeir, at myriam.sfeir@lau.edu.lb

Website: http://www.lau.edu.lb/centers-institutes/iwsaw/publications/al-raida/

Deadline: 27 May 2012

This annual contest comes from a 1951 Langston Hughes poem: What Happens to a Dream Deferred?. Just as the poem helped propel the civil rights movement in the U.S., today it can inspire your dream deferred for the Middle East. The contest has two parts: one for Middle Eastern youth and one for American youth. Please answer one of the questions below - but first make sure to read the rules & guidelines. Winning essays - selected by a panel of celebrity judges - receive $10,000 in prizes.

$10,000 IN PRIZES:

• $2,000 for 1 grand prize winner each in Mideast & U.S.
• $1,500 for 1 second place winner in each region
• $500 for 3 runners-up in each region
• 50 book prizes for additional outstanding essays.

Your Story: How does civil rights abuse in your local community impact you? Share a defining moment where you experienced civil rights restrictions (censorship, discrimination, etc.). How did this incident change you? Will your children's generation still face such repression?

Freedom: Given the historic changes in the Mideast over the past year, do you feel more or less free? Reflect on changes in the region and in your local community. Explain, with examples, whether you enjoy greater rights today than a year ago. Do you expect to be more free a year from now?

In the Streets: If you participated in grassroots protests against repression during the past year, why did you join and what did you learn? Describe in vivid detail what you experienced, as well as how your life - and your attitude on individual rights - has changed. What challenges remain now?

Advocacy: How can individual rights be secured in the Mideast’s new reality? Dictators may have fallen, yet individual rights remain fragile. What can you do to protect the rights of vulnerable members in your local community (women, minorities, etc.). Propose a concrete action plan.

Dream: What is your “dream deferred”: a vision of your society with civil rights for all? Share your dream of a civil rights movement in your community. If you like, write a mock newspaper article from the future reporting on the effort.

Film Fest: In 2008, an essay contest winner organized the first-ever Cairo Human Rights Film Festival. When authorities blocked theatres from hosting screening, she held the opening on a Nile River boat. Be inspired and share your vision for a similar festival in your community: What films will you show? How will you overcome obstacles?

Viral Video: You have been given $1,000 to make a short video (1-4 mins) about individual rights in your society. Share the script, which can expose repression, showcase a campaign or dream of a better future. Bonus: Make the film and provide a YouTube link.

RULES FOR THE "DREAM DEFERRED ESSAY CONTEST"

Check out the Guide to Writing a Good Essay, which includes helpful tips for each question.

Who can enter the contest?

Entrants must be 25 years old or younger as of the contest deadline: May 27, 2012. Entrants must reside in Arab League member states, Iran, Afghanistan, or the United States. There is no minimum age requirement, and entrants do not need to be students. Prizes are awarded as cash, not scholarships.

Foreign Students: If you are a foreigner currently studying in the US, you can enter the contest. If you are a Middle Easterner studying in the US, answer one of the questions posed to Middle Easterners. If you are a citizen of the Middle East temporarily living outside the region, you can still enter the contest. If you are an American currently living overseas, you can enter the contest.

Equal Opportunity: All essays are evaluated without regard for race, religion, gender, or sexual orientation of the author, as well as other classifications protected by applicable international US laws.

How long should entries be?

Essays should be at least 600 words, but no longer than 1,500 words. Footnotes, citations, and essay title do not count towards the word limit.

Can an essay entry remain anonymous?

If do not want your name made public in the event your essay is selected as a winner, check the "anonymous" box when submitting your essay. Several past winners have chosen this option.

When will AIC announce the winners?

Winners will be notified (and announced on our web site) by Summer 2012. Judges evaluate each essay for clarity, creativity, and persuasiveness to determine prize winners.

What are common mistakes to avoid when writing an essay?

Do not focus on US government policy and regional geo-politics (the Iraq War debate, the Arab-Israeli-Iranian conflict, Iran's nuclear program, etc.). Essays based on these topics are disqualified. Judges are looking for essays that explore what ordinary citizens can do on the grassroots level to strengthen individual rights within Middle Eastern societies. These civil rights include, but are not limited to, free expression, women's equality, minority rights, religious freedom, economic liberty, and artistic freedom. Check out the Guide to Writing a Good Essay, which includes helpful tips for each question.

How can a brief essay cover the broad topic of civil rights in the Mideast?

There are several ways to address this challenge. Past prize winners have discussed the larger problem of civil rights abuses across the Middle East with a range of examples. Others have focused on one particular country (Middle Eastern participants are strongly encouraged to address their own society). Others have focused on a particular kind of civil rights abuse (e.g., press censorship). There is no one "right" answer to any of the essay questions. Check out the Guide to Writing a Good Essay, which includes helpful tips for each question.

Do essays have to be original and does AIC retain the right to reprint essays?

Yes and yes. Makes sure any quotations or outside intellectual material have citations. All essay submissions become the property of the contest's sponsor: the American Islamic Congress. At the same time, entrants can republish their essay on their own (e.g., on a blog, for a class paper, etc.) and use ideas for other writing.

2012 CELEBRITY JUDGES FOR "DREAM DEFERRED ESSAY CONTEST"

Amber Lyon

Amber Lyon is a three-time Emmy award-winning journalist and correspondent for CNN, where she helps produce investigative reports and documentaries. She covered the Bahraini nonviolent movement on the ground, and was attacked by Bahraini police. Since then she has become one of the most cited American journalists on the struggle for civil rights in Bahrain.

Ahmed Benchemsi

Benchemsi co-founded Morocco's groundbreaking and best-selling weekly magazines TelQuel and Nichane, which made international headlines with taboo-busting cover stories on the salary of Morocco's king, opinion polls, free speech and more. Benchemsi has been recognized for his pioneering journalism with fellowships at the Los Angeles Times and Newsweek. At the same time, he faced on-going legal intimidation and recently left Morocco to serve as a fellow at Stanford University.

Marietje Schaake

Marietje Schaake is a Dutch politician who has served as a member of the European Parliament since July 2009. The Wall Street Journal identified her as “The Most Wired Politician in Europe”. She has introduced numerous resolutions and inquiries to support the civil rights movement in the Mideast and North Africa before and after the Arab uprisings.

Parisa Montazaran

Parisa Montazaran is the first Muslim to appear on the MTV hit show The Real World. A first-generation Iranian-American, this reality TV star is currently lecturing at universities on diversity, Muslim youth in America, cross-cultural and inter-faith understanding, and female/minority empowerment. Parisa hopes to leverage her freedom in the US to promote change back home in Iran.

Jane Novak

Jane Novak is a leading player in the Yemeni struggle for reform, press freedom, and women equality - and she does it all from her New Jersey home. This stay-at-home mother first became interested in Yemen in 2004 when she learned about the imprisonment of journalist Abdulkarim al-Khaiwani. Novak began to publicize his case on her blog and launched a petition calling for al-Khaiwani’s release. The petition soon garnered 1,000 signatures, and Novak was profiled in the New York Times.

Nasser Weddady

The son of an ambassador, Weddady grew up throughout the Middle East and witnessed firsthand the toll of civil rights repression. As an adult he became an outspoken human rights activist and had to flee to the US as a refugee in 2000. A few days after September 11, he was mistakenly detained by the FBI. Today, he organizes workshops for Middle Eastern activists and helps lead campaigns to free dissidents. He is the co-editor of "Arab Spring Dreams," a new anthology featuring outstanding writing from this essay contest.

CONTACT INFORMATION:

For submissions: submit your essay online here

Website: http://www.aicongress.org/

Deadline: 15 June 2012

Upon the success of my first edited volume titled Arab women’s Lives Retold: Exploring Identity through Writing (Syracuse University Press, 2007), I am working on a second edited volume on Arab Women's Autobiographical Writings. The first volume included studies on a number of texts by Arab women writers or women writers of Arab origin, such as Leila Ahmed’s A Border Passage: From Cairo to America; Assia Djebar’s L’Amour, La Fantasia; Raimonda Tawil’s My Home, My Prison; Leila Abouzeid's Return to childhood; Fatima Mernissi’s Dreams of Trespass; Queen Noor’s Leap of Faith; in addition to studies of autobiography in fiction and poetry, such as texts by Ahdaf Soueif, Mohja Kahf and Suheir Hammad.

If interested in contributing to the second volume book, kindly send a bio of 500 words and a proposal or an abstract of 500-800 words by June 15th, 2012 to Nawar Al-Hassan Golley: nhgolley@aus.edu. Notification of acceptance will be sent by July 15th, 2012.

Completed papers are due December 30th, 2012.

CONTACT INFORMATION:

For inquiries/ submissions: contact Dr. Nawar Al-Hassan Golley at nhgolley@aus.edu

The Sultan Qaboos Award for Culture, Arts and Literature aims at supporting the cultural, artistic and literary fields considering them as a way to emphasise the cultural and humanitarian promotion.

The competition also aims to implant the values of traditions and evolvement in the upcoming generation through providing them with a perfect ambience based on the intellectual, artistic and scientific competition. The award aims to honour artists and intellectuals for their cultural contribution towards evolving the intellect and promoting humanitarian conscience. The award is a part of the continuous interest and Royal care of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos towards culture and its position in the Sultanate’s comprehensive development.

The Sultan Qaboos Centre for Islamic Culture is responsible for all the award’s specialisations and its application.

The award is granted for winners in the fields of culture, arts and literature where one branch of each field will be chosen in each turn of the award, so that three winners of intellectuals, artists and literature will be granted the award each year. Which means, there will be one winner in each field. The Sultan Qaboos Appreciation Award for Culture, Arts and Literature will be granted based upon the total work and achievements of the applicant, whereas the Sultan Qaboos Award for Culture, Arts and Literature will be granted upon one work only for the applicant.

Applicants can apply personally or through scientific, cultural and artist institutions, and the process of evaluation will undergo a couple of procedures and general criteria, such as traditions, commitment to scientific method, innovation and evolvement, whereas other criteria are more specific and will be left for local evaluating committees in each field of the award to decide.

The awards will be in three fields, the first one will be in the cultural field. It is related to the varied cultural works and writings in specialisations of human and social horizons in general, for instance language, history, heritage, philosophy, translation and intellectual studies. The second one is art field. It is related to the artist work production in its different international aspects, such as music, fine arts, sculpture, photography and painting.

The third one is literature field. It is related to different literature types including poetry, novels, short story, literature critique and writing plays. The first winner of the Sultan Qaboos Appreciation Award for Culture, Arts and Literature will be granted the Sultan Qaboos Order for culture, Arts and Literature alongside a sum of RO 100,000.

Secondly, the winner of the Sultan Qaboos Award for Culture, Arts and Literature will be granted The Sultan Qaboos Order for Culture, Arts and Literature alongside a sum of RO 50,000. The Board of Trustees of the Award has decided that the award — in its first turn — be merely for Omanis in areas of short story, drawing, painting and historical studies. Details will be declared through different local media streams and on the award’s website.

(Note: Application details and forms will be posted, when available. You may check the website of the responsible institution, The Sultan Qaboos Centre for Islamic Culture, for updates.)

CONTACT INFORMATION:

For inquiries: admin@sqic.gov.om

Website: http://www.sqcic.gov.om

Work country: Multiple (AE, TN, KE)

IBM is committed to creating a diverse environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status.

EDITOR IN CHIEF - HEAD OF IBM'S EXTERNAL WEBSITES ACROSS MIDDLE EAST & AFRICA

THE CORE RESPONSIBILITIES SPAN

• Connecting with focal points from the Marketing & Communications units to drive content for IBM's web presence and optimize performance & effectiveness.
• Manage a process for delivering landing pages, editorial calendars and ensuring pages fully support marketing and sales programs & objectives.
• Review / edit marketing and sales content for web and assess content effectiveness. Ensures content is complete, timely and up-to-date.
• Ensure marketing content reflects the needs and guidelines for local business priorities.
• Coordinate work with an extended team of specialists, including: Web designers/developers, translators, IBM legal department, and external agencies and contractors.
• Interpret and evaluate reports on web traffic, trends and business performance. Build & drive action plans to improve performance.
• Continuation and growth of search activity (paid and SEO)
• Core team member of IBM's Efforts around out "Paid, owned and earned" (POE) IBM Presence.

• Excellent written and verbal communication, interpersonal and relationship management skills. Ability to work with business & technical teams.
• Highly organized, self-starter, attentive to detail. Good problem-solving skills.
• Good understanding of web users and aptitude for emerging web technologies.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced, deadline oriented, changing environment. Multi-tasking skills essential.
• Ability of develop simple project plans, manage teams and meet deadlines.

• At least 2 years experience in Understanding of Web editing
• At least 5 years experience in Marketing and corporate communications
• At least 2 years experience in Web site content management (writing and editing) and/or related digital multimedia including social media, blogs, interactive media, etc.
• English: Fluent
• French: Intermediate
• Arabic: Intermediate

For submissions: apply via IBM's official netmedia career site here

Website: http://www.ibm.com

Deadline: 15 May 2012

The Journal of Middle East Women’s Studies (JMEWS) Book Award has been established by the Association for Middle East Women’s Studies (AMEWS) to recognize and promote excellence in the fields of Middle East women’s or gender studies, broadly defined. The JMEWS Book Award will be offered annually to a scholar within these fields for a solo-authored book. Books published (copyrighted) in 2011 will be considered for the 2012 award. The competition is open only to books published in English.

The JMEWS Book Award will be given to the author whose work is judged to provide the most significant and potentially influential contribution to Middle East women’s or gender studies. Books of exceptional courage and potential impact beyond the field will be given special consideration.

The first JMEWS Book Award will be publicly announced at the AMEWS business meeting at the MESA Annual Meeting in 2012. The winner will receive a $1,000 cash award and a plaque. Books that do not receive the award but are considered exceptional will receive honorable mentions at the ceremony.

The JMEWS Book Award Committee strongly encourages submission of nominations for the competition. Nominations must come from one or more individuals (not organizations or publishers) in the form of a letter of nomination verifying the impact of the particular work on the field of Middle East women’s or gender studies. Self-nomination is not permitted, and works submitted without an accompanying letter of nomination will not be considered. Signed copies of the nomination letter as well as five copies of each nominated book should be sent to the Award Committee members: Journal of Middle East Women’s Studies, Council on Middle East Studies, The MacMillan Center, Yale University, PO Box 206208, New Haven CT 06520-8206.

The JMEWS Book Award is sponsored by Yale University’s Council on Middle East Studies through funding awarded by the U.S. Department of Education’s Title VI grant. Submission deadline: May 15, 2012.

CONTACT INFORMATION:

For inquiries: cmes@yale.edu

For submissions: Signed copies of the nomination letter as well as five copies of each nominated book should be sent to the Award Committee members: Journal of Middle East Women’s Studies, Council on Middle East Studies, The MacMillan Center, Yale University, PO Box 206208, New Haven CT 06520-8206.

Website: http://www.yale.edu/macmillan/cmes/

Deadline: 15 May 2012

Increasing interest in the conceptualization of “Transnational Literatures” calls for a re-appraisal of the role of gender in contesting official discourses of nation and power. As early as 1938, Virginia Woolf claimed that, “in fact, as a woman I have no country. As a woman I want no country. As a woman my country is the whole world.”1 In “Towards a New Consciousness,” Gloria Anzaldúa describes the dialogic nature of living across Borderlands, “Because I, a mestiza,/ continually walk out of one culture/ and into another,/ because I am in all cultures at the same time,/ alma entre dos mundos, tres, cuatro,/ me zumba la cabeza con lo contradictorio./ Estoy norteada por todas las voces que me hablan/ Simultáneamente.”2

In the spirit of this tradition, we seek contributions in the form of scholarly and/or creative work to the field of “Transnational Feminism” to include in a collection of essays entitled, “Transnational Literatures, Gender and State Power.” This collection investigates the ways in which transnational literatures and gender intersect to challenge the power of official narratives and/or state discourses, including those discourses that limit the mobility of subjects across cultural, national, historical, political, racial, theoretical or any kind of boundary.

We invite chapter-length discussions or creative explorations, including black and white photography and visual art, on a variety of aspects without limitations to geographical lines, theoretical approaches, or genres. Topics may include, but are not limited to the following headings:

* Transnational Discourses and Feminist Perspectives
* Feminist Transnationality and Global Uprising
(From Tunisia and Egypt to Occupy Wall Street)
* National and Transnational Discourses of Masculinity
* Activism, (Auto)- Ethnography and Transnational Narratives
* Post-racial Aesthetics and the Transgression of Borders
* Translation, Resistance, and Gender
* Migration and the Commodification of the Transnational
* State Repression of Gendered Texts

Submission Guidelines

Abstract Deadline: May 15, 2012

Please send a 250-500 word abstract or short excerpt of creative work to: joanie.conwell@gmail.com or ortega@sxu.edu.

Work under consideration must be previously unpublished.

Include with your submission: your name and affiliation, an email address where you can be reached after May 15, and a very brief bio.

CONTACT INFORMATION:

For inquiries/ submissions: joanie.conwell@gmail.com or ortega@sxu.edu

Deadline: 27 May 2012

This annual contest comes from a 1951 Langston Hughes poem: What Happens to a Dream Deferred?. Just as the poem helped propel the civil rights movement in the U.S., today it can inspire your dream deferred for the Middle East. The contest has two parts: one for Middle Eastern youth and one for American youth. Please answer one of the questions below - but first make sure to read the rules & guidelines. Winning essays - selected by a panel of celebrity judges - receive $10,000 in prizes.

$10,000 IN PRIZES:

• $2,000 for 1 grand prize winner each in Mideast & U.S.
• $1,500 for 1 second place winner in each region
• $500 for 3 runners-up in each region
• 50 book prizes for additional outstanding essays.

Your Story: How does civil rights abuse in your local community impact you? Share a defining moment where you experienced civil rights restrictions (censorship, discrimination, etc.). How did this incident change you? Will your children's generation still face such repression?

Freedom: Given the historic changes in the Mideast over the past year, do you feel more or less free? Reflect on changes in the region and in your local community. Explain, with examples, whether you enjoy greater rights today than a year ago. Do you expect to be more free a year from now?

In the Streets: If you participated in grassroots protests against repression during the past year, why did you join and what did you learn? Describe in vivid detail what you experienced, as well as how your life - and your attitude on individual rights - has changed. What challenges remain now?

Advocacy: How can individual rights be secured in the Mideast’s new reality? Dictators may have fallen, yet individual rights remain fragile. What can you do to protect the rights of vulnerable members in your local community (women, minorities, etc.). Propose a concrete action plan.

Dream: What is your “dream deferred”: a vision of your society with civil rights for all? Share your dream of a civil rights movement in your community. If you like, write a mock newspaper article from the future reporting on the effort.

Film Fest: In 2008, an essay contest winner organized the first-ever Cairo Human Rights Film Festival. When authorities blocked theatres from hosting screening, she held the opening on a Nile River boat. Be inspired and share your vision for a similar festival in your community: What films will you show? How will you overcome obstacles?

Viral Video: You have been given $1,000 to make a short video (1-4 mins) about individual rights in your society. Share the script, which can expose repression, showcase a campaign or dream of a better future. Bonus: Make the film and provide a YouTube link.

RULES FOR THE "DREAM DEFERRED ESSAY CONTEST"

Check out the Guide to Writing a Good Essay, which includes helpful tips for each question.

Who can enter the contest?

Entrants must be 25 years old or younger as of the contest deadline: May 27, 2012. Entrants must reside in Arab League member states, Iran, Afghanistan, or the United States. There is no minimum age requirement, and entrants do not need to be students. Prizes are awarded as cash, not scholarships.

Foreign Students: If you are a foreigner currently studying in the US, you can enter the contest. If you are a Middle Easterner studying in the US, answer one of the questions posed to Middle Easterners. If you are a citizen of the Middle East temporarily living outside the region, you can still enter the contest. If you are an American currently living overseas, you can enter the contest.

Equal Opportunity: All essays are evaluated without regard for race, religion, gender, or sexual orientation of the author, as well as other classifications protected by applicable international US laws.

How long should entries be?

Essays should be at least 600 words, but no longer than 1,500 words. Footnotes, citations, and essay title do not count towards the word limit.

Can an essay entry remain anonymous?

If do not want your name made public in the event your essay is selected as a winner, check the "anonymous" box when submitting your essay. Several past winners have chosen this option.

When will AIC announce the winners?

Winners will be notified (and announced on our web site) by Summer 2012. Judges evaluate each essay for clarity, creativity, and persuasiveness to determine prize winners.

What are common mistakes to avoid when writing an essay?

Do not focus on US government policy and regional geo-politics (the Iraq War debate, the Arab-Israeli-Iranian conflict, Iran's nuclear program, etc.). Essays based on these topics are disqualified. Judges are looking for essays that explore what ordinary citizens can do on the grassroots level to strengthen individual rights within Middle Eastern societies. These civil rights include, but are not limited to, free expression, women's equality, minority rights, religious freedom, economic liberty, and artistic freedom. Check out the Guide to Writing a Good Essay, which includes helpful tips for each question.

How can a brief essay cover the broad topic of civil rights in the Mideast?

There are several ways to address this challenge. Past prize winners have discussed the larger problem of civil rights abuses across the Middle East with a range of examples. Others have focused on one particular country (Middle Eastern participants are strongly encouraged to address their own society). Others have focused on a particular kind of civil rights abuse (e.g., press censorship). There is no one "right" answer to any of the essay questions. Check out the Guide to Writing a Good Essay, which includes helpful tips for each question.

Do essays have to be original and does AIC retain the right to reprint essays?

Yes and yes. Makes sure any quotations or outside intellectual material have citations. All essay submissions become the property of the contest's sponsor: the American Islamic Congress. At the same time, entrants can republish their essay on their own (e.g., on a blog, for a class paper, etc.) and use ideas for other writing.

2012 CELEBRITY JUDGES FOR "DREAM DEFERRED ESSAY CONTEST"

Amber Lyon

Amber Lyon is a three-time Emmy award-winning journalist and correspondent for CNN, where she helps produce investigative reports and documentaries. She covered the Bahraini nonviolent movement on the ground, and was attacked by Bahraini police. Since then she has become one of the most cited American journalists on the struggle for civil rights in Bahrain.

Ahmed Benchemsi

Benchemsi co-founded Morocco's groundbreaking and best-selling weekly magazines TelQuel and Nichane, which made international headlines with taboo-busting cover stories on the salary of Morocco's king, opinion polls, free speech and more. Benchemsi has been recognized for his pioneering journalism with fellowships at the Los Angeles Times and Newsweek. At the same time, he faced on-going legal intimidation and recently left Morocco to serve as a fellow at Stanford University.

Marietje Schaake

Marietje Schaake is a Dutch politician who has served as a member of the European Parliament since July 2009. The Wall Street Journal identified her as “The Most Wired Politician in Europe”. She has introduced numerous resolutions and inquiries to support the civil rights movement in the Mideast and North Africa before and after the Arab uprisings.

Parisa Montazaran

Parisa Montazaran is the first Muslim to appear on the MTV hit show The Real World. A first-generation Iranian-American, this reality TV star is currently lecturing at universities on diversity, Muslim youth in America, cross-cultural and inter-faith understanding, and female/minority empowerment. Parisa hopes to leverage her freedom in the US to promote change back home in Iran.

Jane Novak

Jane Novak is a leading player in the Yemeni struggle for reform, press freedom, and women equality - and she does it all from her New Jersey home. This stay-at-home mother first became interested in Yemen in 2004 when she learned about the imprisonment of journalist Abdulkarim al-Khaiwani. Novak began to publicize his case on her blog and launched a petition calling for al-Khaiwani’s release. The petition soon garnered 1,000 signatures, and Novak was profiled in the New York Times.

Nasser Weddady

The son of an ambassador, Weddady grew up throughout the Middle East and witnessed firsthand the toll of civil rights repression. As an adult he became an outspoken human rights activist and had to flee to the US as a refugee in 2000. A few days after September 11, he was mistakenly detained by the FBI. Today, he organizes workshops for Middle Eastern activists and helps lead campaigns to free dissidents. He is the co-editor of "Arab Spring Dreams," a new anthology featuring outstanding writing from this essay contest.

CONTACT INFORMATION:

For submissions: submit your essay online here

Website: http://www.aicongress.org/

Deadline: 12 May 2012

The Holy Quran is the Divine Book and the unrivaled and insurmountable miracle of Allah the Almighty, brought by the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).

So far 14 centuries have passed and nobody could have challenged its sublime language and style. The authenticity of its contents has shed light for the mankind, especially for its devout and ardent followers.

The brilliant verses of the Quran contain what is necessary for the felicity of the mankind. Therefore, the mankind has been in debt to the teachings of the Holy Quran, for it contains the ways to reach full development and spiritual proximity to the Almighty Allah. In the light of this capacity, the Quran exegetes and researchers have made extensive research to find out more about the solutions offered for the crisis of the mankind, past and present. In view of this capacity, the cultural division of Iranian endowments & charity affairs organization and the University of Quran Sciences and Knowledge (based at Qom) have decided to schedule a conference for upgrading the echelon of cultural enrichment on an international level through holding the 29th International competitions of Holy Quran. The sessions held will deal with articles submitted for participation in the competition. It is hoped that such contributions will lead to exploring more so-far-hidden aspects of the miracle of the Holy Quran. A selection of the articles will be published in the proceedings of the conference.

MAIN ISSUES AND SUBORDINATE TOPICS FOR WRITING QURANIC ARTICLES:

I. QURAN AND ISLAMIC AWAKENING

1. Foundations and characteristics of Islamic Awakening from the Perspective of the Holy Quran

2. Mechanisms of Realization of Islamic Awakening based on the Teachings of the Holy Quran

3. Causes of Deviation of Muslim Communities from Divine Goals in the Movements of Islamic Awakening from the Perspective of the Holy Quran

4. Factors and Mechanisms of safeguarding and Continuation of Islamic Awakening from the Perspective of the Holy Quran

5. Islamic Awakening and Materialization of Divine promises in the Holy Quran

6. Pathology of Islamic Movements according to the Holy Quran

7. Analysis of the Role of Zionism in the Deviation of Islamic Movements according to the Teachings of the Holy Quran

8. Ways of Interference of the West in the Movements of Islamic Awakening and Mechanisms of Counteracting them from the Perspective of the Holy Quran

9. Role of Unity in the Realization and Continuation of the Movements of Islamic Awakening and Conspiracies of Enemy in Opposing this Role according to the Holy Quran
10. Role of Leadership in the awakening of Muslim Communities according t
o the Holy Quran

11. Role and Position of the Teachings of the holy Quran in Realization, Organization, and Leading of Islamic Movements

12. Role and Position of Enlightened Youth in the Movements of Islamic Awakening according to the Teachings of the Holy Quran

13. Role of Women in the Movements of Islamic Awakening according to the Teachings of the Holy Quran

14. Characteristics of Islamic Awakening in the Islamic Revolution of Iran and Comparing them to the Recent Islamic Movements in the Light of Quranic Criteria

15. Necessity of the Establishment of a Just Islamic Government according to the Holy Quran

16. A Study of the Political System of the Islamic Republic of Iran as a Quranic, Islamic Example of a highly Qualified and Desirable System

II. THE HOLY QURAN AND PERFECTION OF HUMAN SOCIETY

1. Nature of Perfection and Spiritual Happiness in the Holy Quran

2. Features of Perfect Human Being in the Holy Quran along with a Study of Examples

3. Islamic Lifestyle according to the Holy Quran and Islamic Teachings

4. Position of Islamic Morality in the Teachings of the Holy Quran and its Role in the Perfection of Individual and Society

5. Nature of Islamic Ethical Values in the Holy Quran and Comparing them to the Ethical Norms of Western Foundations

6. Mechanisms of Realization of Islamic Morality towards Reaching a Perfect Society according to the Holy Quran

7. Factors of deviation of society from Moral Values as Examples of Cultural Invasion and Mechanisms of Counteracting them according to the Holy Quran

8. Ethical Pathology of the Youth and Mechanisms of Counteracting Moral Deviations according to the Holy Quran and Islamic Teachings

9. Quranic Mechanisms towards the Immunity of the Society against Dangerous Effects of Satellites, Internet, Computer Games, ……

10. Ways and Means of Benefitting from the Capacity of New Media and communication towards Materialization and Development of a Quranic Society

11. Role of Family in Counteracting Cultural Invasion, and Promotion of the Culture of Islamic Decency in the Society according to the Holy Quran

12. Role of Family in Safeguarding the Society and Mechanisms of its Realization based on the Holy Quran

WRITING STRUCTURE/FORMATTING

The Structure of Writing Essays for 29th International Competitions of Holy Quran

1- The structure of essay should follow: title, abstract, key words, introduction, main body text, conclusion, endnote (if there is), and references.

2- At the end of any quoted sentences should mention to the reference in a parenthesis as: (name and sure name of the author, published year, volume, page).

Note 1: repeated references should mention as the same first time. Do not use words like Ibid, opt …

Note 2: If there is more than a works for an author, specify it by alphabetical letters.

3- Additional explanations and proper names or expressions should come at the end of main body text titled endnote (references here would be as the same main body text that noted above).

4- References should sort based on alphabetical arrangement as:

• Book: sure name and first name (published year), title, translator (if there is), publication location, publisher, publishing number, volume.

• Essay: sure name and first name (published year), title, the name of journal, volume.

5- Abstract should contain 300 words including: JEL classification, title, subject, methodology of research and its most consequences, key words (utmost 10 words)

• Papers should select in a form of with margins: top 2cm, bottom 2.5cm, right and left 2cm.

• Essays should write in one column.

• Font should be Times New Roman 14

• Line spacing should be single.

KEY POINTS:

• Whole document should contain 25 pages of 300 words.
• It should have not published anywhere else.
• Accepted essays will publish in a proceeding of 29th essays of international competition of holey Quran.

Notification of paper acceptance: 10 June 2012

Online submission will be available in: March 10

CONTACT INFORMATION:

For inquiries: via their online contact form

For submissions: submit online here

Website: http://www.pmfso.ir

Clambake Press is considering manuscripts for publication; narrative non-fiction only, no prescriptive. Send three chapters or 30 pgs as an attachment and a synopsis in the body of the email, as well as full contact information and information about previous publications or author's bio.

Location: all MENA

Compensation: royalties

CONTACT INFORMATION:

For inquiries/ submissions: jg6q7-2994434626@job.craigslist.org

Date: 5 - 9 May 2012 (Gaza), 11 May 2012 (Cairo)

The Festival will take place in Gaza from May 5th to May 9th, with an event in Ramallah on May 5th and a reprise event in Cairo on May 11th.

It has been a longstanding aim of the festival to travel to Gaza. Since it started in 2008 PalFest has taken the form of a travelling festival – moving to audiences constrained and divided by Israel’s military occupation, establishing creative links between Palestine and the rest of the world and pitting the power of culture against the culture of power.

PalFest has tried several times in the past to reach Gaza from the Occupied Palestinian Territories but has never been able to because of the restrictions put in place by the Israeli Occupation. Gaza has been under siege and isolated from the rest of the world since 2007.
This May, PalFest 2012 will bring a group of writers, educators and artists through the Rafah crossing from Egypt to perform free public events, run workshops with students of varying ages and meet civil society leaders in Gaza.

PalFest has endorsed the 2004 Palestinian call for the academic and cultural boycott of Israel. PalFest 2012 stands against the siege of Gaza; it is committed to re-invigorating cultural ties between Arab countries, ties that have been eroded for too long. The Festival will be bringing writers and artists from across the Arab world and beyond.

While the Festival’s primary activities will be taking place in Gaza, PalFest works to retain its active presence in the West Bank. British authors Rachel Holmes and Bee Rowlatt will lead extended creative writing workshops in Birzeit with the Palestine Writing Workshop. They will also be joining Maya Abu el-Hayat, Abd al-Rahim al-Sheikh and Imad Sayrafi on stage at the Sakakini Centre on May 5th. A one-day children’s literature festival will be held during the Festival, with plans for a larger children’s event in the summer.

Beyond the Festival dates PalFest continues its educational programme through its sister organization the Palestine Writing Workshop, whose activities include regular book clubs, creative writing classes and the creation and maintenance of a library.

PalFest will be launching a new, bi-lingual website this week. Developed with the support of the UK Arts Council, the site will be profiling new literary talent from across Palestine and the diaspora as well as developing an online space for critical feedback between young writers and more established authors.

The full list of artists attending PalFest 2012 is:

• GAZA
• Ghada Abd el-Al
• Alaa Abd el-Fattah
• Suad Amiry
• Selma Dabbagh
• Najwan Darwish
• Amr Ezzat
• Amin Haddad
• Tariq Hamdan
• Nathalie Handal
• Manal Hassan
• Khaled Khamissi
• Jamal Mahjoub
• Sahar el-Mogy
• Khaled Najar
• Youssef Rakha
• Ahdaf Soueif
• Hyam Yared
• Nariman Youssef
• & the bands Eskenderella, Jafra and al Salam.
• Birzeit & Ramallah
• Maya Abu el-Hayat
• Rachel Holmes
• Abd al-Rahim al-Sheikh
• Bee Rowlatt
• Imad Sayrafi

PalFest is supported by the Arts Council UK, the Abdalla Foundation, the British Council, the Open Society, the Qattan Foundation, Bloomsbury Qatar Foundation Publishing, Reach out to Asia and individual donors, Rana Sadik, Samer Younis, Fadi Ghandour, Riad Kamal, Zina Jardaneh, Mostafa Beidas, Suhail Sikhtian and Janwa Dajani.

CONTACT INFORMATION:

For inquiries: contact@palfest.org

Website: http://palfest.org

Deadline: 31 July 2012

Announcing a call for personal stories by American Muslim women and their relationships with the Hijab; these stories will be published in a book in the form of an anthology. This book is an opportunity for Muslim women to give their own narratives regarding Hijab and their relationship to it. For too long others have been speaking for the Muslim women and how they feel or ought to feel, whether they should or should not cover, how liberating or oppressive the hijab is. Share your personal story and let others know first hand how a Muslim woman feels about her own hijab.

Who are you? What brought you to wearing it? What is your process of considering to wear it or no longer wear it? What brought you to taking it off? Why do you choose to wear it with that particular style? What influences (personal, social, political, cultural, pop-culture, and religious) have shaped your understanding of hijab and how it has manifested in your life? How do other’s thoughts and stereotypes affect your relationship? We want you to describe, in detail, creatively your relationship with hijab.

This book will allow women to dispel stereotypes seen in media with our own humorous, dramatic, and engaging voices. Through our pieces, women are able to disable people from painting Muslim women in a monolithic brush. We hope to show the humanness and the complexities and nuanced experiences of the woman who has a relationship with the Hijab.

We are requesting that only American Muslim women who wear Hijab, have previously worn Hijab, or are contemplating wearing it submit for this call. We also request that the writing, although non-fiction, be written in a story format, written creatively and not so much an academic or historical essay.

SUBMISSION RULES: Work submitted must be non-fiction and autobiographical. Author must self-identify as an American Muslim Woman.

WORD COUNT: Word count for submissions must be between 1500 – 4000 words, double-spaced.

DETAILS: Please send your commitment to submit in the body of your email to hijabulous2012@gmail.com by June 1, 2012. Please remember to include:

· Name (full name)
· Age
· Location
· Contact information (e-mail address/phone number)
· Background (ethnic/racial and what Islamic sect you identify with)
· Please indicate whether you are a Hijabi, non-Hijabi, contemplating wearing a Hijab, convertible hijabi
Whether Muslim by birth or conversion

DEADLINE: Final story draft due by July 31, 2012. Please attach as a Word document.

CONTACT INFORMATION:

For inquiries/ submissions: contact Sabeen Shaiq or Sabina Khan-Ibarra at hijabulous2012@gmail.com

Deadline: 1 July 2012

In 2005 the Royal Film Commission - Jordan (RFC) launched Rawi (Storyteller), a screenplay development lab, in consultation with the Sundance Institute. Independent Arab screenwriters (Fellows) are offered the chance to develop their work in a uniquely creative environment under the guidance of internationally acclaimed screenwriters from all over the world (Creative Advisors).

At the beginning of autumn each year, fellows and advisors descend into the depths of Jordan's southern desert, to the remote eco-lodge of Wadi Feynan, where for five days, they work intensively on their feature narrative screenplays. Each fellow will have a one-on-one story session with the lab's creative advisors. The advisors’ guidance ranges from improving the fellow's technique as a screenwriter, to life lessons and practical suggestions to be explored in their next draft. Emphasis is placed on each fellow's individual voice and story.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION:

• The eighth round of Rawi Screenwriters’ Lab will take place in November 14-18th 2012 in Wadi Feynan Eco-Lodge in Jordan.
• Submission is open from April 1st till July 1st 2012.
• Submission deadline is July 1st 2012.

• Rawi Screenwriters’ Lab is open for screenwriters, co-writers, or writers /directors.
• Screenwriters working on their first or second narrative feature screenplay can apply.
• Applicants must submit a COMPLETE NARRATIVE FEATURE SCREENPLAY.
• Only Arab screenwriters/ filmmakers are eligible to apply, regardless of their country of residence.

Please fill in the online Application Form and send it to rawi@film.jo. Please enclose the following (soft copy only):

• A covering letter introducing yourself and your project (e.g.: Why are you applying to the program? Are you collaborating with a co-writer or a director on the project? Do you intend to direct the project and what is the status of the project at the stage of submission).
• Complete feature narrative screenplay that must include a title page with the project title and name of writer as well as the project registration number. Please make sure the script is registered.
• Logline: a one-line sentence description of the project.
• Synopsis: one full A4 page.
• Filmmaker’s statement; please describe your vision and creative approach to the project and why you want to tell this story.
• Screenwriter’s biography.
• Please send (VIA COURIER ONLY such as Aramex, FeDex, etc.) a DVD copy of your previous work (dramatic short film/s, feature or documentary) to the following address:

FAQ

1. What is Rawi Screenwriters’ Lab?

Rawi Screenwriters’ Lab is an annual five-day screenplay development workshop aimed at independent Arab screenwriters working on their first or second narrative feature screenplays.

Each year seven or eight screenwriters (Fellows) are selected to join the lab and experience one-on-one mentoring sessions from internationally acclaimed screenwriters (Advisors) from all over the world. The emphasis of the lab is to develop the writer’s individual voice as a storyteller. Advisors and fellows will engage in an in depth dialogue about the craft of screenwriting and rewriting process, as well as the fellows’ individual vision for their story.

2. How do I apply for Rawi Screenwriters’ Lab?

Submissions towards the 8th round of Rawi Screenwriters’ Lab will be open April 1st -July 1st 2012 during which the Application Form will be available online. To apply, please fill in the Application Form and send it to rawi@film.jo. Also enclose, via e-mail, your complete screenplay, cover and introductory letters, a logline, synopsis and writer/director statement. In addition please submit samples of previous audio-visual works and send them via courier to the given address in the Application Form.

3. Can I submit a short or documentary script?

No. Rawi Screenwriters’ Lab aims at screenwriters working on a full-length feature narrative screenplay only. Hence applicants will need to submit a feature narrative screenplay.

4. How long is a feature screenplay?

Each page in script standard format is accounted for as a one-minute filming session. A feature film screenplay will typically be between 80-120 pages.

5. Can I submit a treatment?

No. Only full length screenplays are accepted. This is because Rawi is not an “introduction to screenwriting” workshop, it’s rather more like a master class and is most effective when there is already a screenplay to be developed further.

6. How many scripts can I submit?

You can submit up to two screenplays but we advise you to select the one which you feel the most strongly about and are committed to making first.

7. Who is eligible to apply?

Rawi Screenwriters’ Lab is aimed at Arab screenwriters only. Arabs who live outside of the region can also apply if their parents are from the Middle East, North Africa or the Gulf.

8. What’s the language of the Lab?

As this is a very international group the language used is English, but you don’t have to be fluent in English to participate. We do provide interpreters when needed.

9. Can I submit my script in Arabic?

Yes, Arabic and English submissions are acceptable. If your Arabic submission is selected you need to translate it to English and send it back to us four weeks before the workshop starts.

10. I haven’t written or directed a feature film before, can I still apply?

Yes, although we will be very interested to look at your directing skills, we also welcome submissions from scriptwriters with no directing experience.

11. How many screenwriters will be selected?

Each year seven or eight screenwriters are selected.

12. How do you select projects?

An Advisory Committee of writers, scholars, and film professionals work with the Rawi team throughout the selection process. The primary short listing is based on script merits: story, originality, writing style, and individual voices, etc. Where applicable, we look very closely at the directing work of the writer.

13. When and where will Rawi Screenwriters’ Lab take place?

The 8th round of Rawi Screenwriters’ Lab will take place November 14 - 18th 2012 in Wadi Feynan’s Eco-Lodge in Jordan.

14. If my project was selected who will cover my travel and accommodation expenses?

Rawi is one of the programs of the Royal Film Commission - Jordan (RFC), and all expenses including participants’ travel and accommodation will be covered by the RFC.

15. Who are the Creative Advisors?

Creative Advisors are experienced screenwriters and sometimes writers/ directors. Each year we invite eight to ten Creative Advisors from different parts of the world. We announce participating Advisors nearer to the time of the Lab. For more information on Creative Advisors from earlier rounds please look up: Alumni & Advisors.

16. Is Rawi different from the Sundance Screenwriters’ Labs?

Rawi was modeled around the Sundance Screenwriters’ Lab and differs only in that it focuses solely on Arab screenwriters

17. Would the RFC help me produce my film post Rawi lab?

The Lab is intended to support the screenwriters creatively, and the focus of the lab is specifically on screenwriting, not production or the business aspect of filmmaking. However the Rawi team is available to support all Alumni on an advisory basis throughout their creative process, providing an ongoing resource for introduction, advice, recommendations, etc.

18. What does the RFC expect in return?

Participants are required to acknowledge and credit the program in the following form: “The script (or film project) was developed with the assistance of Rawi Screenwriters’ Lab, a project of the Royal Film Commission – Jordan, in consultation with the Sundance Institute”.

CONTACT INFORMATION:

For inquiries: write to rawi@film.jo or call The Royal Film Commission - Jordan at: Tel: +962 6 461 3835 ext. 108, 104

For submissions: fill in the online Application Form here

Website: http://www.film.jo

Date: 8 - 9 May 2012

Dubai Press Club (DPC), organisers of the Arab Media Forum (AMF), today announced the 11th edition of the event will be themed “Arab Media: Exposure & Transition.” Arab Media Forum 2012 (AMF 2012) is scheduled to be held from 8-9 May at the Grand Hyatt in Dubai, drawing the participation of over 2,000 regional and international journalists, as well as influential decision makers, opinion leaders, entrepreneurs and innovators. It will feature eight sessions and four workshops that will highlight the perspectives of more than 65 speakers from various academic, media and research disciplines.

The event will primarily monitor developments in the Arab and global media landscape, examining the emergence of new media outlets and platforms that have significantly impacted traditional formats. The forum will additionally review the predicament of certain news organizations that have faced challenges in offering an impartial coverage of events. Panel discussions will also analyse the new influencers of public opinion, and the shift in media content and language used.

Maryam Bin Fahad, Executive Director, Dubai Press Club, said: “The theme of the 11th edition reflects the geopolitical dynamics of the region and will be spotlighted throughout the sessions and workshops hosted at the forum. We have witnessed turmoil in the media landscape that mirrors the transformations in the political and social fabric of the Arab world. Furthermore, recent movements in the Arab world revealed the flaws in the media’s response to crises. The gaps that were identified have provided the thrust for the media to change direction and place itself on a transformation path. It’s almost as if the Arab media is waking up to a new dawn in its changed ideology and mechanism. The forum’s agenda is in-line with these developments in the media sector.”

The agenda for the 11th Arab Media Forum is drawn from the outcomes of the Arab Media Outlook, a report that charts developments in the media landscape across 17 Arab countries and is set to be launched in end-April.

Bin Fahd added: “A group of media experts in the DPC network including Arab and international media persons have crafted the agenda of the event. We will share names of the speakers and formats of the workshops through the forum’s electronic gate www.arabmediaforum.ae. More importantly, in our continued aim to drive the practice of fair reportage, we will foster the involvement of young media persons and students and engage them in various aspects of event management.”

Note: The Arab Media Forum 2012 will take place from May 8 to 9 at the Grand Hyatt in Dubai. To learn more about the speakers, click here. Program details can be found here. You can register to this event through this page.

CONTACT INFORMATION:

For inquiries: arabmediaforum@dpc.org.ae

Website: http://www.arabmediaforum.ae

Deadline: 7 May 2012

The Arab Fund for Arts and Culture (AFAC) announced today its first 2012 semi-annual open call for its three general categories: Literature, Performing Arts and Visual Arts. This general call is open exclusively for Arab candidates and the deadline for applying to any of the three categories is May 7, 2012. The next semi-annual call for Music, Cinema, and Research, Training and Regional Events opens in July 2012.

Literature: Research, writing and publishing of literary works, including novels, short stories, poetry, translations and biographies, in print and online.

Performing Arts: Development and production of theatrical, dance, as well as other forms of performing arts.

Visual Arts: Production and organization of art exhibitions, installations, and other forms of visual arts.

Please consult the Grant Guidelines (below), Evaluation Process, and FAQs before applying.
To apply, please create an account on AFAC’s website here, in case you don’t have one.
Subsequently, the applications will be available at your user’s dashboard after you login using your account details.

GRANT GUIDELINES

1. About AFAC’s Grants

• AFAC provides grants amounting up to fifty thousand U.S. dollars each.
• If the grant from AFAC exceeds ten thousand dollars, but only covers part of the project’s overall budget, the grantee must raise 70% of the remaining budget in order to be awarded the grant.
• In the event that the grantee is unable to procure 70% of the project budget within 90 days of receiving the grant, the latter will be canceled.
• In the event that the grantee does not sign the grant contract within 60 days upon receipt thereof, the grant will be canceled.
• No grantee will be awarded more than two deadline extensions during the grant period; such extensions should be justified and approved by AFAC.

2. Eligible Candidates

The Arab Fund for Arts and Culture invites all Arab parties working in the cultural and artistic spheres, whose projects target the Arab region, to send their project proposals regardless of age, years of experience, nationality, country of residence (Arab world and abroad), ethnicity, religion or any other factor. This includes:

• Individuals
• NGOs
• Cultural/educational institutions and centers
• Organizations, institutions, governmental and non-governmental bodies concerned with culture and the arts

3. Ineligible Applicants

AFAC will not consider applications submitted by:

• Members of the Board of Trustees, their business partners or family members
• AFAC staff members, their business partners or family members
• Members of the jury, their business partners or family members

4. Eligible Expenses

• AFAC only covers project-related expenses, and not running operating costs.
Example: AFAC will cover the rent of a temporary location to be used by a theater troupe for rehearsals and performances as well as the crew members’ salaries throughout the production period, but will not cover operational expenses, such as the rent of the troupe’s permanent premises or permanent employees’ salaries.

5. Place and Duration

• AFAC will not provide support retroactively, i.e. to projects already implemented
• Projects may be implemented anywhere as long as they mainly target an Arab audience
• The project’s timeframe should not be less than one month nor exceed 24 months

6. Eligible Applications

• An applicant may submit two grant requests for two projects in two different categories (for example, performing arts and cinema). Requests for two projects within the same category will not be accepted.
• Previous grantees may not apply for a new grant unless the previous grant expired before the application submission deadline for this year.
• Grantees who have received two grants may only apply for a third grant two years after the end of the awarded projects.

7. How to Apply

• Only applications that are filled in online on our website will be processed and evaluated. Applications submitted via regular mail or e-mail will not be accepted.
• All required documents can be uploaded into the application. Links to work samples on sites such as YouTube, Vimeo or Dropbox can also be uploaded directly into the application. Only supporting files/samples of previous work exceeding 2 MB should be sent by physical mail to AFAC’s office in Beirut. Please do not mail duplicates of work uploaded into the application.
• If sending materials by physical mail for AFAC’s general grant application, please send 5 copies of all accompanying work to AFAC’s Beirut office, postmarked by the relevant deadline and marked with the project title and application number.
• If sending materials by physical mail for the Arab Documentary Film Program application, please send 7 copies of all accompanying materials, postmarked by the relevant deadline and marked with the project title and application number. AFAC does not return application materials.
• Samples should be mailed through a major courier; it is recommended that applicants submit tracking numbers in their applications. Incomplete applications or applications missing supporting documents will not be reviewed.
• You will receive email confirmation once the online application has been received. You are advised to follow up on receipt for mailed material, as we will not contact you if any part of your application is incomplete.

8. Evaluation and Selection Process

Following the submission deadline, AFAC will conduct an administrative check to ensure that applications are complete and adhere to the guidelines. Only applications that pass the administrative check will be processed. A selection committee will then assess the received proposals and select the winners. Please see ‘Evaluation Process’ for more details. The grant winners’ names will be published on our website.

9. Grant Contracts

AFAC will draft a contract to be signed by the winners. The contract will include contract start and end dates, grant amount, financial requirements, payment schedule, general provisions, implementation and amendments, required reports, and project results.

10. Payment Schedule

If AFAC awards a grantee US $10,000 or less, he or she will receive 80% of the grant total amount as a first payment. Once the project is complete and the winner has submitted the deliverables, narrative and financial reports, the remaining 20% will be transferred.
For grants exceeding US $10,000, grantees will receive 50% of the grant total amount as the first payment. Once 80% of the first payment has been spent, the grantee must submit an interim narrative and financial report to AFAC. Once approved, grantees will receive 25% of the grant total amount as a second payment. With submission of the final deliverables, the final 25% payment will be made and the grant will be closed.

CONTACT INFORMATION:

For inquiries: info@arabculturefund.org

For submissions: create an account here

Website: http://www.arabculturefund.org