Upcoming Events

Adonis and Khaled Mattawa: A New Divan

Sunday 20 October 2019 at Southbank Centre

Mark the 200th anniversary of the publication of Johann Wolfgang von Goethe’s great work of world literature, the West-East Divan, with readings and discussion from internationally renowned poets.

Speakers include the renowned Syrian poet Adonis, known as ‘the grand old man of poetry, secularism and free speech in the Arab world’ and the Libyan-US poet Khaled Mattawa, who writes in English and who is also Adonis’s regular translator. They gather to talk about poetry, translation, Goethe, Hafiz and different cultural traditions.

At the Corner of a Dream: Launch of Bahia Shehab's Book and Exhibition

Thursday 26 September at Aga Khan Centre Gallery, London

We are very excited that our upcoming publication At the Corner of a Dream – A Journey of Resistance & Revolution: The Street Art of Bahia Shehab – an artist’s manifesto exploring the work of this Egyptian-Lebanese street artist, academic and activist will be launched at the opening night of an accompanying exhibition in London on 26 September.

We’re delighted to be working with the Aga Khan University Institute for the Study of Muslim Civilisations (AKU-ISMC) to launch this book highlighting Shehab’s work. The Aga Khan Centre Gallery will be launching its new exhibition space with an exhibition of Bahia’s work:

• Preview/Book launch: ‪26 September, 6-8pm, including a talk by the artist ‪at 6.30pm
• Exhibition dates: ‪27 September 2019 – 5 January 2020

A New Divan Festival, Barenboim-Said Akademie, Berlin

18-20 November at Barenboim-Said Akademie, Berlin

The Barenboim-Said Akademie has invited leading poets, artists, and musicians from “East” and “West” to come together for a festival celebrating 200 years of Goethe’s West-Eastern Divan.

The program, curated by Prof. Dr. Mena Mark Hanna, Dean of the Barenboim-Said Akademie and co-produced by the Stiftung – Gingko Library, is the culmination of a four-year collaboration between the Barenboim-Said Akademie and the publishers of A New Divan. A series of poetry readings, keynote lectures, and panel discussions will explore and elaborate Goethe’s themes.

The festival program is complemented by an exhibition and the screening of a documentary film featuring the artist and activist Bahia Shehab. Admission to all events except the concert is free but tickets are required.