Monthly Archives: March 2022

Graduate Profile: Writer Steve Sohmer

In the latest in our Alumni Spotlight series we connect with Steve Sohmer. A person of many talents, from Shakespearean scholar to television producer, Steve pursued a Master’s in Creative Writing at our Paris School, an academic experience which he is currently continuing as a PhD candidate of the School of English at Kent in Canterbury. In this interview we learn more about Steve’s career path, why he chose to study in Paris at PSAC and more about his experience with Kent, both in Paris and Canterbury.

Where are you from and what originally brought you to Paris?

I was born in Savannah, Georgia (US of A), raised in New York, and had been living in Los Angeles (where I squandered my childhood in film and television) before enrolling in the Kent Paris Creative Writing Masters Programme. My son was studying for a Bachelors and Masters at American University of Paris. So, Kent in Paris offered me the twin opportunities of studying in an excellent program while sharing digs in the 7ème with David. It was a splendid year on all counts. Papa was right; Paris is still a moveable feast.

What attracted you most about studying at PSAC?

I’d read a good deal about the PSAC program. And after reading their books, I was impressed by the instructors who would be available to me – particularly Dragan Todorovic and Amy Sackville. I’d urge every prospective creative writing student to read the work of the instructors they’ll study under and work with. Really good writers don’t always prove to be exceptional teachers. But at least you can be confident they know their onions. That’s important. Because as well as tutelage, you’re going to rely on them for that all-important criticism.

 

What were some of the highlights of your experience?

The classes I sat were, by and large, outstanding. And the pleasures of the classroom were delightfully augmented by the bright and interesting students with whom I shared them. They hailed from New Orleans and Moscow and Ho Chi Minh City. They were sharp and cosmopolitan. The conversations ranged every-which-way. And they had opinions about everything. So, the down-time between and after classes was as lively and thought-provoking as the classes themselves.

What are you currently doing and how did that come about?

The Kent PhD in Creative Writing caught my ear while listening to Dragan Todorovic describe how the programme worked. Then he turned to me and said, “You should think about doing it.” I did. And right now, I’m in the thick of a Kent PhD with Dragan as my primary supervisor and Amy Sackville as overseer. There’s one great thing about this program I would hammer home to anyone who wants to learn to write a novel: Enrolling for the Kent PhD gets you an editor (or two) who will work with you, stick with you, and give you their best for up to four years and even longer. You’ll never-ever enjoy that luxury again, not with any publisher or agent, not in the book publishing environment of this day and age. Not when manuscripts are supposed to arrive camera-ready at the editor’s desk. The era when Thomas Wolfe had Maxwell Perkins as a tenacious and belligerent guiding angel for seven years are long gone. At Kent, for the long run you’ll have an experienced, multi-published author to work with you, advise you, challenge and console you. That is certainly worth the price of admission.

Do you think that your studies at PSAC helped with your career or creative endeavours?

After I published my first novel, I took 20 years off to have a career. Then I went back to the keyboard, wrote of pair of political thrillers, produced one for television, then took another 20-year sabbatical to read Shakespeare at Oxford and write books about him. When I wanted to return to fiction, I was sure those chops would be rusty from disuse. Which is why I enrolled in the PSAC Creative Writing program as a form of literary body-building for a return foray into fiction. I’d say it’s worked out well. If the novel I’m writing is published, I’d say quite well.

Would you recommend PSAC to potential students and if so what would you tell them?

Were a kid of mine coming to PSAC to study, I’d give them this advice: Steep yourself in Paris and the literature of France – from Rabelais to Stendhal to Sartre, Camus, Perec, de Beauvoir – even Romaine Gary and Jean Simmons. Think of the year(s) you’ll spend in Paris as an immersion, mind and soul. Infuse yourself with Parisian life and French lit until it oozes out of every pore. Learn to speak French if you’re capable, and speak it to everyone from your instructors to the doorman. At best, it will imbue you with a personal renaissance. If nothing else, the experience will throw the rest of your life into high relief so you’ll can recognize it for what it is and isn’t.

Merci beaucoup, Steve! You can find a list of Steve’s books here (ask for them at your local independent bookshop!). If you would also like to develop your own writer, learn more about our Creative Writing MA in Paris at this link.

Call for applicants for Paris Writer’s Residency 2022

Practitioners in poetry, prose or other genres of writing are invited to apply for the fourth edition of the Paris Writer’s Residency, an initiative jointly sponsored by The American University of Paris (AUP), the Centre Culturel Irlandais (Irish Cultural Center) in Paris, and the University of Kent Paris School of Arts and Culture (PSAC). The residency will take place from October 1 to 31, 2022.

Residents are encouraged to explore interdisciplinary writing possibilities and engage with students at the residency’s partner institutions. The chosen writer will be required to take part in three key events: a day of interaction with creative writing students at AUP, a reading and workshop with PSAC master’s students, and a public lecture at the Centre Culturel Irlandais.

The appointment is non-stipendiary, though accommodation will be provided at the historic Centre Culturel Irlandais located in the Latin Quarter of Paris’s 5th arrondissement. An expenses allowance of €1,500 is provided to cover travel and living costs.

Applicants are asked to submit a CV and a writing sample of no more than 3,000 words, as well as a 250-word letter of motivation explaining why Paris is an appropriate location for their residency and how they plan to work with students. Applications can be submitted from March 15 and will close on May 1, 2022. The successful candidate will be notified in June 2022.

To submit your application via the Interfolio platform, click the link here. Please note that you will be asked to create an account.

Questions related to the residency should be addressed to Amanda Dennis, Assistant Professor of Comparative Literature and English (adennis@aup.edu) or to Yelena Moskovich, Lecturer in Creative Writing (Y.Moskovich-248@kent.ac.uk).

The Paris Writer’s Residency has previously been held by writer and translator Daniel Hahn OBE (2018), poet and author Sampurna Chatterjee (2019) and poet and novelist Sophie Mackintosh (2021).

Best Parks for Picnics in Paris

The sun is shining, the birds are singing and you’ve got a fresh baguette and some cheese but no where to go!

Now that the weather is warmer, Parisians and tourists alike will be heading outdoors to enjoy the green spaces that Paris has to offer. We’ve compiled a list of the best parks (where you can sit on the grass!) in Paris for your spring picnics.

Parc des Buttes-Chaumont

The Parc des Buttes-Chaumont is located in the 19th arrondissement and is one of the biggest and original green spaces in Paris. The park was once a quarry, and today it is characterised by its many hills, towering trees and winding paths.  The Temple de Sybille, found on a an island in the man-made lake, offers stunning views over the city and the grassy slopes of the surrounding hills make for an excellent picnic spot.

Closest Metro: Buttes Chaumont (Line 7bis), Laumière (Line 5)

Parc Montsouris

The only park on this list based on the Left Bank, Parc Montsouris was designed to bring life to a part of Paris that had been abandoned and forgotten. The park’s English garden design of large areas of uninterrupted grass make this a wonderful spot for an afternoon in the sun listening to music from the band stand. It’s easy to see why the park is so popular with students from the nearby Cité Internationale Universitaire.

Montsouris is also home to a meteorological observatory and the mire du sud, a stone marking the Meridian of Paris, the beginning point for measuring longitude for all French maps until 1884.

Closest Metro: Cité Universitaire (RER B)

Parc floral in the Bois de Vincennes

Bois de Vincennes

A large forest and gardens in the east of Paris, the Bois de Vincennes has its own lakes and a zoo. The floral gardens are similar to gardens found in the centre of Paris but the woods are far more natural and wild. After your picnic, you can hire a rosalie (a four person pedal car) and ride around the floral gardens. It’s a great place to enjoy a slice of the countryside within reach of the city!

Closest Metro: Chateau de Vincennes (Line 1), Porte de Charenton or Liberté (Line 8)

Parc Monceau

Located on the border of the 8th and 17th arrondissement, Parc Monceau reflects the luxury of the surrounding area. The park has a large pond, an ornate wrought iron gates and a number of scaled-down architectural features such as Corinthian pillars (pictured above). The mainly flat, grassy park is ideal for a weekend picnic, and is popular with Parisians and tourists alike.

Closest Metro: Monceau (Line 2), Malesherbes (Line 3)

Bois de Boulougne

The Bois de Boulougne, the western twin of the Bois de Vincennes, is a former royal hunting ground on the edge of Paris complete with woods, boating lakes, 15km of cycle paths and a Chateau. It is also home to the Bagatelle rose gardens and the Fondation Louis Vuittion – a temporary art exhibition space. Find out about other sights of contemporary architecture in Paris in this article!

Closest Metro:  Ranelagh (Line 9), Neuilly- Porte Maillot (Line 1), Porte Dauphine (Line 2)

Lesser-Known Medieval Sites in Paris 

While much of the Roman Paris, called Lutetia, was destroyed by centuries of barbarian and Viking invasions, a number of vestiges from the Middle Ages have managed to survive, bearing witness to Paris’ rich, layered history. After you’ve seen les incontournables Notre Dame, Sainte Chapelle, and Saint-Germain-des-Prés, go in search of these lesser-known Medieval sites, now carefully woven into the city’s modern fabric.

College des Bernadins - study in Paris

Le Collège des Bernardins

The Latin Quarter, which occupies much of the north of the 5th arrondissement, is home to the largest concentration of Medieval vestiges in Paris. The area used to be dotted with various colleges and monasteries, many which eventually formed the University of Paris. What’s left of one of these, Le Collège des Bernardins, sits peacefully on the quiet rue de Poissy. Dating back to the mid 13th century, its large refectory, or dining hall, can be visited free of charge during opening hours. Fully restored, this space is still used today for conferences. 

Address: 20 Rue de Poissy, 75005 Paris

Eglise des Saints-Archanges-study-abroad-in-Paris

l’Église des Saints-Archanges

Found a short walk from the Collège des Bernardins are the remnants of another Medieval college. Built in the late 13th century, the Collège de Beauvais was one of the largest in the whole area. The only part of it that withstood the Revolutionary destruction of religious buildings and the Haussmann modernisation of the city in the mid-1800s is its former chapel. Modelled after Sainte-Chapelle, it’s since been converted into a Romanian Orthodox church and can be visited, although check its opening hours first as they are limited. Learn more about it, and the history of it and the other Medieval colleges, in episode 5 of the Paris Caché podcast.

Address:  9 Bis Rue Jean de Beauvais, 75005 Paris

Tour Clovis (Clovis Tower)

If you’re studying at the historic Bibliothèque Sainte Geneviève, located near the Pantheon, you may have already noticed this intriguing tower jutting into the sky beside the Saint-Etienne-du-Mont Church. The bell tower is all that remains of the former Sainte-Geneviève church, which was part of an abbey of the same name, founded in 502 by Clovis, the first king of the Franks. The abbey church was torn down when a larger replacement church was commenced. If you look carefully at the 45-metre bell tower you can see the style varies slightly as it rises, the bottom part being constructed in the 11th century versus the 15th century for the top half. The Tour Clovis, along with the parts of the abbey which were not destroyed during the Revolution, are now a prestigious high school, le Lycée Henri IV.

Address: 65 Rue du Cardinal Lemoine, 75005 Paris

Enceinte-Philippe-Auguste

Vestiges of the Philippe Auguste Wall

The first major wall around Paris was constructed by King Philippe Auguste from the late 12th to early 13th centuries. Encompassing just over 5 kilometres on both banks of the city, it rose six to eight metres in height and had  77 semi-circular towers at 60-metre intervals. The city wall was expanded on the Right Bank in the mid 1300s by Charles V. These walls were gradually torn down during the reign of Louis XIV; however, a few sections are still visible. Near the Tour Clovis, further down on rue Clovis, is a one of these. On the Right Bank, you can spot a few sections in the Marais including a large section behind the Saint-Paul-Saint-Louis church (along the basketball court) and also in the Jardin des Rosiers-Joseph Migneret (pictured above).

Hôtel de Sens

The Marais district hides a few other Medieval gems, like this historic residence. One of the last buildings constructed in the Gothic style in Paris, it was commissioned in 1475 as the city mansion for the bishops of Sens. It is one of only two Medieval civic buildings in the Gothic style that survived the centuries, the other being the Hotel de Cluny, now the National Medieval Museum. This building now houses the Forney art library. Although it was heavily restored, you can see its turreted towers, gargoyles and interior courtyard (top image). Don’t miss its lovely back garden and before you leave, take note of the facade. You’ll see a small round object with the words “28 juillet 1830,“ the date of the start of the Trois Glorieuses, the three-day revolution that toppled what history refers to as the July Monarchy. Cannonballs were flying through the area and one of these got lodged into the wall!

Address: 7 Rue des Nonnains d’Hyères, 75004 Paris

Photo credit: Cloître des Billettes: Guilhem Vellut / CC

The Billettes Cloister

Tucked away on the lively rue des Archives is Paris’s only remaining Medieval cloister. Constructed in 1427 next to the convent of the Brothers of Charity Hospital of Our Lady (mostly known today as Les Billettes). The church itself was rebuilt in the mid-18th century, but the cloisters went untouched. Recently restored, today they host temporary art exhibitions and other events in addition to serving as a Protestant (Lutheran) worship space. 

Address: 24 Rue des Archives, 75004 Paris

Hotel de Clisson Paris

Hôtel de Clisson

Further up the street on rue des Archives you can notice some intriguing turrets. These are all that remain of the former Hôtel de Clisson, the residence of Olivier de Clisson. When it was built in the 1300s, the hôtel stood just outside the Paris city walls. In 1553 it was bought by François de Lorraine, the Duke of Guise, and was later sold by his family to the Prince and Princess de Soubise. This noble family then demolished most of the Medieval building to make way from a more modern home, today the home of the National Archives, which is accessed via rue des Francs Bourgeois. The historic restored baroque interiors can also be visited free of charge.

Tour Saint-Jacques (St James Tower)

One of the last Medieval structures built in Paris, this flamboyant Gothic tower, standing close to Place de Châtelet, is all that is left of the Eglise Saint-Jacques-de-la-Boucherie, which was destroyed in 1797 during the French Revolutionary period. The church and its bell tower were built between 1509 and 1523, funded by the butchers of the nearby Les Halles Market. You can admire the tower from the garden which surrounds it or visit it during guided tours held seasonally mid-summer to mid-autumn.

Address: Square de la tour Saint-Jacques 75004 Paris

You can visit more intriguing offbeat sites in Paris, including the Medieval Tour Saint Jean le Peur, in this other article on our blog! 

And if you’re interested in travelling further afield, check out the well-preserved ramparts and impressive gates of Provins, once a medieval trading hub, accessible via commuter rail from Paris.

Interested in delving deeping into Medieval Studies in Paris? Consider applying for our in Medieval and Early Modern Studies MA offered at the Paris School of Arts and Culture. Discover this and our other Master’s Programmes in the Humanities taught in Paris here.

Good-Value Lunch Spots around our Paris School

Being mindful of your budget is often a top concern for students; one living expense where you can make savings is on your food. The most economical option is to prepare your own lunch (you can eat in the student lounge, in the courtyard on a sunny day, or in the nearby Luxembourg Gardens). But you’re not always going to have time to plan ahead. For that reason, we have put together a handy list of good value lunch options in Montparnasse and close to Reid Hall.

Supermarkets

French supermarkets generally sell pre-prepared sandwiches, salads and other lunch items at good value prices (approx 3-6€). Here are a few options near campus. There is also an open-air food market held on Boulevard Edgar Quinet on Wednesday and Saturday mornings.

Carrefour City (84 Rue Notre Dame des Champs, 75006 Paris) – The closest market to the school. Be forewarned that, as there are several schools nearby, this supermarket sees a lot of traffic between 12-1:30 pm.

Franprix (50 Rue Notre Dame des Champs, 75006 Paris) – Convenient if you’re coming or going to métro Notre Dame des Champs (line 12), this small shop sells food essentials.

Monop (124-126 Bd Raspail, 75006 Paris) – The express version of France’s higher end supermarket chain Monoprix, here you can get better quality lunch options from sandwiches to quinoa salads.

Naturalia (116 Bd Raspail, 75006 Paris) – A chain of French organic shops, here you can get healthy items to make your own lunch as well as some pre-prepared lunch items.

Takeaway Food

Panini stands (76 and 54 Rue Notre Dame des Champs, 75006 Paris) – Located a very short walk from the exit of the school, these stands cater to local students. The meal deal consists of a hot panini sandwich or a savoury crepe with drink and dessert for 5€.

Joël La Boulangerie (54 Rue Notre Dame des Champs, 75006 Paris) – Located conveniently at the intersection of rue Bréa, Vavin and Notre Dame des Champs, this local bakery has sandwiches, salads, quiches and a variety of baked goods which can be combined in their meal deal (referred to as a menu or formule in French). Approx: 6-10€.

Boulangerie Eric Kayser (87 Rue d’Assas, 75006 Paris) – This branch of a high quality chain of bakeries sells a range of reasonably priced hot and cold lunch menus. Approx: 5-12€, from sandwiches to menus.

Poké Planet (1 Rue Léopold Robert, 75014 Paris) – The poké bowl trend has even made it to Paris. Healthy and tasty, this eatery offers creative bowls from vegan to pescatarian. More information on their website. Approx: 8-12€.

Sushi Gozen (22 Rue Delambre, 75014 Paris) – With both sit-down and take away options, this is a reasonably priced Japanese restaurant close to Reid Hall. Take-away bento boxes are 9€ while in-restaurant lunch menus are 11€. See their website for menus.

Aristotte Bagel Shop (23 Rue Bréa, 75006 Paris) – This little shop makes freshly prepared bagels and sandwiches with customers choosing either off the menu or a custom sandwich. They also serve soup in the winter, hot dogs, and sweet bagel fillings. You can find their menu here. Approx: 6-8€

My Noodles (129 Bd du Montparnasse, 75006 Paris) – This North Chinese noodle place is a good option for a hot and tasty meal. Noodles are freshly made in-house and you can have them sautéed or in soup broth as well as other options. They also have seating, see their menu here. The restaurant can get busy at lunch time, so plan to arrive at noon to get a table quickly. Approx: 10-12€.

Bouillon Chartier Montparnasse (photo courtesy the restaurant’s Facebook page)

Sit Down Restaurants

Sushi Gozen and My Noddles above both have seating. Here are a few other great value options:

Montparnasse crêperies – The Montparnasse area is famous for its crêperies (crêpe houses), concentrated here thanks to the community of Bretons who settled in the area (the Montparnasse train station serves their native Brittany). Not only are crêpes part of the traditions of Montparnasse, they are also good value for money. Rue d’Odessa and rue du Montparnasse (not to be confused with boulevard du Montparnasse), are lined with great crêperies. Josselin is the most famous crêperie, however, it tends to be crowded so if there are no seats there, you can pick another one on these streets – they are all very good! Crêpe etiquette: crêpes are a sit-down meal. First go savoury, then go sweet.

Bouillon Chartier Montparnasse (59 Bd du Montparnasse, 75006 Paris) – Bouillons were born in the late 19th century. Their concept is simple: simple and classic dishes at unbeatably low prices.  The historic Chartier Montparnasse has a gorgeous art nouveau decor and a fantastic value menu with main courses starting at 6,50€. If you stick to the cheaper items, you can eat a full three course meal (without drinks) for under 15€. This restaurant has been in operation since 1858, with its fabulous art nouveau decor dating from 1906.

Lucernaire (53 Rue Notre Dame des Champs, 75006 Paris) – This cool multi-purpose theatre-cinéma-book shop-café has a daily lunch special for around 12€. A nice way to mingle with hip, artistic locals!

Anti-Waste Apps

A great way to save on food is to use an anti-waste app like Too Good To Go or Phenix. Both apps have relationships with supermarkets, bakeries and other food purveyors which offer discounts on food which is nearing its expiry date. Sizes are always generous and if you have a little freezer in your apartment, you can even make the goods last a little longer! There are venues on the apps near Montparnasse… so you might also find last minute bargains on it!

Bon appetit!

Paris-Masters-Scholarship

Announcing PSAC Scholarships for September 2022 entry

See further information and apply here.
Recyclerie Paris

The Best Cafés in Paris to Work In

While there are many great libraries to work or study in in Paris, it can be nice to have a change of scenery, and get a caffeine boost, by setting up camp at a café. Paris is famous for its cafés, but not all are conducive to hitting the books or switching on a computer. This collection of cafés around Paris offer the perfect setting for working all the while enjoying the city’s café culture.

General Tips:

One of the best features of almost all Parisian cafés is that you can usually stay for hours with only making one purchase. Celebrity chef Anthony Bourdain liked to explain this custom as paying the cheapest rent in town! If you do park yourself at a café for over two hours, though, it would be considered polite to make a second purchase. 

Many of the cafés on this list are modern coffee shops; they more easily accommodate nomadic work practices and ancillary electronic devices. Whether it is appropriate to work at your computer in a “traditional” French café largely depends on the café. Traditional-style cafés are not laptop-averse; however, you should plan to either have lunch there or leave while lunch is being served. Popular week-end brunch spots do not permit the use of laptops. 

 

Coutume Café in the 7th Arrondissement in Paris, France.

Coutume 

One of the first modern coffee shops in Paris, this coffee roaster now supplies many cafés around the city. Their original location, found near Le Bon Marché department store in the 7th, is around a 20-minute walk from the school, while they also have a new, small branch with a few tables in the ​​Monoprix Concept Store at Montparnasse.

Address: 47 rue de Babylone 75007 Paris, 31 Rue du Départ, 75014 Paris and other addresses around Paris.

Strada a cafe to study in Paris

Strada 

Tucked away in the Latin Quarter, just south of the Bibliothèque Sainte-Geneviève and the Pantheon, this modern coffee shop features minimalist decor. They serve great fair trade coffee, cakes and breakfast items.

Address: 24 Rue Monge 75005 Paris

 

KB a cafe to study in Paris

KB CaféShop

This excellent café and coffee roaster in the South Pigalle neighborhood attracts both serious coffee lovers and remote workers. It has a large shared table and a wide range of beverages and snacks as well as outdoor seating with afternoon sun.

Address: 53 avenue Trudaine, 75009 Paris

Le Breguet a cafe to study in Paris

Le Grand Breguet 

Large, friendly and laid back, this café in the 11th is popular with the young hip crowd of east end Paris. It has free wifi as well as handy plug sockets on the floor or on warmer days you can opt to work on its sunny terrace. At the end of a long afternoon of work, you can linger to enjoy apéro with the locals.

Address: 17 Rue Breguet, 75011 Paris

Nomade 

Found on a trendy foodie street in the 11th, this café serves up great coffee, pastries and juices. You can choose from bar stool seating, tables or more relaxed sofas and armchairs.

Address: 8 rue Paul Bert, 75011 Paris

La Felicita

If you’re over at the Bibliothèque nationale, you can have a change of scenery and rub shoulders with Paris young start-up professionals at this huge Italian food market attached to the Station F coworking venue. There is a coffee shop area serving excellent quality Italian caffè, quieter seating areas, and a vast terrace for warmer days. When you have finished your work, you can treat yourself to a spritz.

Address: 8 Rue Eugène Freyssinet, 75013 Paris

La Recyclerie a cafe to study in Paris

La Recyclerie

Chill and eco-friendly vibes permeate throughout this venue located in a former station of the defunct Petite Ceinture railroad which used to circle the edge of Paris. There are plenty of places to sit indoors, including some sofas and, weather permitting, there’s also seating down by the disused train tracks, although the WIFI might not reach that far! Learn more about la Petite Ceinture in this article from our blog.  

Address: 83 boulevard Ornano, 75018 Paris

 

Worth mentioning:

Le Café Sans Nom (not an official “working café”, but a welcoming neighbourhood staple with wifi and East Paris vibes and prices)

Le Cannibale Café (a busy east Paris café that is not computer-averse)

Les p’tites indécises (affordable East Paris fare in a student-friendly setting)

Anticafé (a chain of co-working spaces dotted around the city)

Passager Café (great food and coffee and space for a laptop in the 11th arrondissement, but usually over-subscribed)

Judy Located a few streets over from our Paris School, this health-focussed, gluten-free café is not the cheapest address in town, but it has a welcoming and serene ambiance that is ideal for concentrating. Sip on a coffee, herbal tea, or detox juice while you work on papers or your dissertation.

Photos: Courtesy of Facebook pages.

International Women’s Day 2022 in Paris

Tuesday 8th March marks International Women’s Day: a day to commemorate the cultural, political, and socioeconomic achievements of women.

The history of the day is rooted in the women’s suffrage and labour movements of North America and Europe in the early 20th century, who wanted a day to recognise women’s achievements and rights. After the 1917 revolution, Russia chose 8th March as their Women’s Day and other communist countries followed suit. By the 1960s, the day was adopted by global feminist movements and it became a mainstream global holiday following its adoption by the United Nations in 1977.

Here are some events happening around Paris to celebrate the day and shed light onto issues facing women here in France and across the world:

H24: 24 Hours, 24 Women, 24 Stories

Columbia Global Centers, the Columbia Institute for Ideas and Imagination and Lost in Frenchlation have teamed up to bring you a multilingual film screening in honour of International Women’s Day. H24 is a series of 24 short films by 24 female writers performed by 24 actresses, all based on the real life experiences of women dealing with sexism, harassment and violence. The screening will be followed by a discussion in English with producers Justine Henochsberg and Julie Guesnon Amarante.

Ce que les Afghanes à nous dire. Mairie du 10e arrondissement.

Ce que les Afghanes ont à nous dire

The Town Hall of the 10th Arrondissement is hosting a photography exhibition by recently exiled Afghan artists, allowing them to express themselves on the subject of their and their country’s situation after the Taliban returned to power in August 2021. The exhibition will run until 17th March with a special musical performance on Tuesday 8th March at 6pm for International Women’s Day.

PLURI’elles 2. Sine Nomine Collectif.

PLURI’elles #2

Following the success of last years exhibition despite Covid-19 related restrictions, Sine Nomine Collectif are back, bringing you a week of art, debates, theatrical performances, round table discussions, music and more at the Espace Voltaire. Find the full programme of events running from 8th to 14th March on Facebook.

Festival Films de Femmes

The Festival Films de Femmes is an international film festival in Créteil. The festival’s 44th edition, from 11th to 20th March, will feature short films, documentaries and feature films, as well as a retrospective on Susan Sontag’s work and a feature on Chinese cinema. The screenings will take place across three locations: the Maison des Arts et de Culture and the Lucarne cinema in Créteil, and Les 7 Parnassiens cinema in Paris.

Women are not afraid. Pauline Makoveitchoux.

Women are not afraid

On the fences around the Town Hall of the 1st Arrondissement, Pauline Makoveitchoux presents her photography exhibition: Women are not afraid. This photo series focuses on women defiantly reclaiming their right to exist in public and urban spaces. The public will be able to view this open air exhibition until Thursday 31st March.

Featured image: International Women’s Day 2015 demonstration. Boris Horvat/AFP.

French PM announces end of vaccine passport

On Wednesday, 2 March, the French Prime Minister Jean Castex announced that the current pass vaccinal (Covid-19 passport regime) will end on 14 March 2021. A pass vaccinal demonstrating that an individual is fully vaccinated against Covid-19 is currently required to enter bars, restaurants, galleries, and cinemas.

In addition, the French government briefed that mask wearing will no longer be required in the vast majority of venues, with the notable exception of public transport, where individuals will still be required to wear face coverings.

The University of Kent Paris School will continue to keep staff and students updated on national requirements as they become available.

Kent welcomes UN Special Rapporteur On The Right To Food (7-8 March)

The UN Special Rapporteur On The Right To Food, Professor Michael Fakhri, will participate in a number of free public and academic events at the University on 7 and 8 March.

Organised by the Centre for Critical International Law (CeCIL)Kent Law School and the Division of Law, Society and Social Justice (LSSJ), these events will consider the impact of Covid-19 on food security and the right to food worldwide.

During his visit, Professor Fakhri will deliver the 2021-2022 CeCIL Annual Lecture at the Gulbenkian Arts Centre on 8 March (7-9pm), preceeded by a reception (6-7pm). His lecture, entitled, ‘The Radical Potential of the Right to Food’, is free and open to all. Free tickets can be booked here. This event will be live-streamed by KMTV.

On 7 March, Professor Fakhri, who is also Director of the Food Resiliency Project at the University of Oregon School of Law, will participate in an in-conversation style event featuring Young Food Ambassadors from The Food Foundation and the organisation’s Executive Director, Anna Taylor. Organised and hosted by CeCIL and LSSJ, this event will take place in Keynes College Lecture Theatre 1 (7-8.30pm), preceeded by a reception (6-7pm). Free tickets for this event are available here. This event will also be live-streamed by KMTV.

In addition to these public events, Professor Fakhri will attend seminars with Law LLM students at Kent Law School to share Special Rapporteur’s insights, experience and expertise, as well as meetings with leaders from community groups whose work interfaces with Professor Fakhri’s mandate to address the need for an integrated and coordinated approach to promoting and protecting people’s right to food.

Professor Fakhri’s visit will feed into the Special Rapporteur’s broader consultations on identifying solutions to mitigate harmful impacts of the pandemic on the realisation of the right to food.

Dr Luis Eslava, CeCIL Co-Director and Reader in International Law at Kent Law School, said: ‘We are extremely honoured to be hosting Professor Fakhri. His visit will give students and the broader community the opportunity to learn more about his incredibly important work on the promotion of the right to food, in an era in which access to adequate food is increasingly under threat from factors including climate change, endemic conflict, harsh economic conditions and, of course, the fallout from the Covid-19 pandemic and other health crises.’

Anna Taylor, Executive Director of The Food Foundation, said: ‘We welcome the opportunity to discuss and share evidence about the current situation in the UK and we look forward to hearing more about UN’s international work on the importance of a rights-based approach to food and how we must protect the most at risk in society.’