Graduate Profile: Writer Darren Riding

In the latest edition of our Alumni Spotlight series we touch base with Darren Riding, an alumnus of our former American Literature Master’s Programme in Paris. Since graduating from our Paris School of Arts and Culture (PSAC), Darren Riding has worked as a lecturer in Asia and is currently working as a A freelance writer in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Discover what brought Darren to our Paris School and his impressions of our programmes in this interview.

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

I am from Westmeath in the Irish midlands. It’s an extremely rural part of the country and I read a lot when I was young. I’ve always been interested in American literature and the fact that Kent had an MA course split between Canterbury and Paris was very appealing. For me, the sense of place was as attractive as the course content. Paris is obviously one of the most historically cultural cities in the world so it was exciting to imagine spending some time there.

What attracted you most about studying at PSAC?

The most attractive part of studying there was the opportunity to be part of a unique literary community. As the class sizes were small, we had an opportunity to bond with each other that simply isn’t possible on a regular university campus. Meanwhile, being in Paris is incredible for students of literature because of the history related to the Lost Generation, Shakespeare and Co. Great Irish writers like Samuel Beckett and James Joyce wrote some of the greatest works of the twentieth century there. As all of my course modules were influenced by the city, it made sense to immerse myself in it. Also, I have a shameless weakness for patisseries.

What were some of the highlights of your experience?

There were guest lectures in the evenings with drinks receptions afterward. In Canterbury it was easy to overlook these type of events but in Paris we were all invested in them and tried to make the most of our experience. We got to meet working artists of all kinds and spend time in their company outside of the normal confines of the classroom. The postgrad festival was also a lot of fun. I helped to organise it and once we got past the stressful parts, it went really well. I’d really love to go back in the future and attend one again – without any responsibilities!

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

At the moment I am living in Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam as a freelance writer. I taught English in a university when I first came here but changed to writing full-time. It was a chance to live outside of Europe and experience more of the world, while being able to sustain the career I wanted.

Do you think that your studies at PSAC helped with your career prospects?

Generally speaking having an MA in literature has improved my writing. The fact that I studied in Paris is also an interesting talking point on a CV. I only spent a semester in Paris but I gained some skills I didn’t expect when we were preparing conferences and events. It is also such a multinational environment so I made connections from all over the world, many of whom I’m still in touch with today.

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

I would definitely recommend PSAC to potential students because it was such an enjoyable experience for me. As well as being in Paris, you it’s such a unique opportunity to get to know people – from fellow students to lecturers and coordinators like Peter and Frank. This really added to the experience because it felt like faculty members knew who you were and made you feel part of the Reid Hall community. If you are not from the UK I would also consider spending a semester in Canterbury as I did, because it is a gorgeous city.

Merci beaucoup Darren!

Historic Art Studios You Can Visit in Paris

Many artists have lived and worked in Paris over the centuries. We are fortunate enough to have the legacy of some preserved at their former art studios which have been transformed into museums. From early 19th century romanticism to modern sculpture, here are our top picks of historic art studios you can visit in Paris.

Photo: Musée Délacroix

Musée Délacroix

Tucked away on a charming square in the Saint Germain neighborhood is the former studio and residence of Eugene Délacroix. One of the most important painters of the early 19th century Romantic movement, Délacroix is best known for his dramatic painting Liberty Leading the People (1830), hanging at the Louvre. The artist moved here in 1857 to be closer to the Saint-Sulpice church, where he’d been commissioned to produce several large murals. Facing a verdant courtyard and with large windows, he lived in this studio-apartment until his death in 1863 and it was converted into a museum in 1932.

Musée Gustav Moreau (and top photo)

Musée Gustave Moreau

The former home and studio of symbolist artist Gustav Moreau is set in an elegant mansion in the 9th district. The first section takes you through his former living quarters, however, the real highlight is his vast studio area, spread over two floors with towering ceilings and commissioned by the artist in the view of creating a museum in the building upon his death. Moreau passed away in 1898 and the venue opened as a museum in 1903. In addition to admiring the dozens of paintings of nymphs and mythological gods and goddesses, be sure to peer into the drawers and cabinets, filled with drawings, prints and more paintings.

Musée de Montmartre

This collection of buildings, formerly the art studio of Renoir, Degas, Suzanne Valadon and Maurice Utrillo, is now a museum on the history of this artistic neighborhood of Paris. The museum has displays on the history of the area in one building and temporary exhibits in another section, but the interest for art fans is the front wing where there is the reconstructed art studio of the last major artists who used the space: Suzanne Valadon and her son Maurice Utrillo. There is also a charming café in the garden, where you can also see what they consider as the swing depicted in Renoir’s famous painting La Balançoire.

Musee-Zadkine-vue-aerienne-jardin-630x405-C-OTCP-Didier-Messina

Musée Zadkine Photo: Paris Info

Musée Zadkine

Located on the edge of the Luxembourg Gardens, and only a few blocks away from our Paris School, is the former studio of artist Ossip Zadkine. The Russian-born cubist sculptor spent much of his career living in Paris and working at his Montparnasse studio. Visiting it provides insight into what the area was early to mid 20th century, when it the artistic and literary centre of the city. In addition to the studio, you can contemplate more works in the museum’s tranquil garden. As it is one of the museums of the City of Paris, admission is free, extra incentive to visit!

Photo: Musée Bourdelle

Musée Bourdelle

Another studio of the Montparnasse area, the sculptor Antoine Bourdelle worked in this space from 1885 to 1929. An excellent example of a turn of the 20th century Parisian artist studio, the museum unfolds through a series of buildings and peaceful courtyards. Vast rooms filled with colossal sculptures are contrasted with his more intimate studio spaces. The museum also hosts temporary exhibits, so be sure to check the programme in advance.

Brancusi Studio, Groume / Flickr

Brancusi Studio

Many visitors to the Centre Pompidou are not aware that there is a famous art studio located at its base and which is annex of the museum. Although not at its original location, this is a loyal reconstruction of artist Constantin Brancusi’s Montparnasse studio, the contents of which he bequeathed to the French state in 1956. Living and working in Paris from 1904 until his death in 1957, the Romanian artist gradually expanded upon his studio on the Impasse Ronsin in the 15^th arrondissement which were faithfully recreated after the artist’s death, first at the Palais de Tokyo then here when the Modern Art Museum was created in the 1970s.

Other Studio or Artist Homes:

Musée Jean-Jacques Henner – although it isn’t in its original location either, this charming museum in the 17th arrondissement was once the studio-home of Guillaume Dubufe and was transformed into a museum-studio in honor of painter Jean-Jacques Henner, both artists prominent painters in France during the second half of the 19th century.

Fondation Giacometti – also not in its original location and not an exact reconstruction, this center presents exhibitions, research and pedagogy around the Swiss artist Alberto Giacometti. The Institute is found in the Montparnasse neighbourhood not far from where Giacometti lived and worked and in the former studio of artist and interior designer Paul Follot.

Carry on discovering art in Paris thanks to these other thematic articles on our blog:

Interested in studying art in Paris? Consider pursuing our Master’s in the history and philosophy of art taught in English at our Paris School of Arts and Culture.

France Reopens Borders and Eases Other Covid-19 Restrictions

From 9 June, 2021 France will enter Phase 3 of its easing of Covid-19 restrictions. This also includes the opening of its borders with certain conditions. Discover the new protocols and how it relates to those currently in Paris and those planning on traveling to France.

Le Vrai Paris café in Montmartre

European and International Borders Reopening

As announced in late April, France will be open to EU and other nationalities as of 9 June. This is based a colour system in which requirements for entry vary on your country of departure. This system includes three colour groups: Red, Orange, and Green. The Green group includes EU residents, who will no longer need a “compelling reason” to enter France, and only non-vaccinated visitors will have to provide a recent negative antigen or PCR test. The other countries in the Green category include Australia, South Korea, Israel, Japan, Lebanon, New Zealand and Singapore.

The Orange group includes North Americans who can enter with proof of being fully vaccinated (with proof of your vaccination). Those who are not, must have a compelling reason to enter, plus undergo an obligatory quarantine of 7 days and a PCR test after arrival.

For UK nationals, those who are fully vaccinated will need to have proof of a negative PCR test within 72 hours of departure, or an antigen test within 48 hours of departure. However, you will not need to justify an essential reason for travel or to self-isolate on arrival. Those who are not fully vaccinated will only be able to enter France for compelling reasons. However, testing requirements have changed. Travelers in this category will be able to take a PCR test within 72 hours of departure, or an antigen test within 48 hours of departure. More information on current travel requirements is available on the UK government website here.

European countries are aiming to coordinate on a EU “health pass” which will hopefully be announced by 1 July.

Photo: Hotel de la Marine, opening on 12 June

Déconfinement Phase 3: 9 June Further Reopening Conditions

As of 9 June the curfew in France goes up to 11 pm. Restaurants will also be allowed to have diners indoors (with certain capacity limits and other restrictions). Museums can also accept up to 65% capacity, although advance booking is now required at many venues, like the beautiful Hotel de la Marine which will be opening to the public on 12 June.

Visitors under 26 and holders of a student card can obtain free entrance to most museums in Paris. For smaller museums you merely need to present your ID (student and national ID) upon entering or but for larger museums, like the Louvre, you need to book in advance a free student ticket in advance.

PSAC students returning to the Musée d’Orsay

Our Top Suggestions for your Cultural Outings

Gain some inspiration for your cultural outings via these articles from our blog:

You can peruse other recent articles here.

Launch of The Menteur 2021

We are very pleased to announce the upcoming release of the latest edition of The Menteur, our literary and arts magazine. Founded in 2012, the magazine is edited and produced annually by postgraduate students at the University of Kent’s Paris School of Arts and Culture.

During these challenging times, we have seen art, literature, music, and drama come to life in unexpected ways and into our lives via new channels. For many over the last year, virtual gallery tours, performances, and live readings have offered a sanctuary, providing either a moment of enjoyable solitude, or the ability to share an experience with others.

It therefore seemed fitting that this year’s edition of Le Menteur would come to encompass this culturally shifting landscape. For our theme, Art Re-wired, we asked our contributors to reflect on how the nature of connection and collaboration, along with our sources of inspiration, have been redirected after being so abruptly uprooted when social contact went out the window.

In the this year’s edition you will find stories that highlight the absurdity and the joys of the human condition. Peaks of isolation are correspondingly met with consolation, and the deepest sorrows serve to heighten the eventual celebrations. Our theme, Art Rewired, features work that engages or challenges ideas/dichotomies of solitude and interconnectivity felt during the pandemic. How is a world pushing against social contact rewiring our definition of connection and collaboration? The virtual launch will reveal the magazine for the first time and include performances of some of the pieces in this year’s edition.

Sneak peek of ‘Abicere’ – Rebecca Rayner

The Menteur Launch

The Menteur‘s launch will be taking place on Saturday, 5 June, 2021 at 7 pm (CET – Paris Time) and is the closing event of our annual Postgraduate Festival taking place from 1-5 June (see more about the other events in the festival here). The virtual launch will reveal the magazine for the first time and include performances of some of the pieces in this year’s edition. Please see the programme overview below and you can join at this link.

A digital version of the magazine is also now available on Issu here.

Sneak peek of ‘The Bigger Picture’ – Wendy Kirkwood

The Menteur Launch Programme

Introduction by Professor Frances Guerin
Menteur Team Q+A
A Touch of Pink by the group Realma with introduction by its singer/songwriter Ariadna
Lockdown, Disability, and Creativity – an Interview with Ayesha Chouglay conducted by Jessica Rose.
Inhale/Exhale – film screening with Introduction by filmmaker Michèle Saint Michel
Renga – video poem with an introduction by poet David Dykes
Reading by poet Allison Wittenberg

Join via Zoom here. We are looking forward to seeing you there!

Graduate Profile: Film Professional Sarah Kathryn Cleaver

In the latest in our Alumni Spotlight series we connect with Sarah Kathryn Cleaver, an alumna of our Film Master’s Programme in Paris. Since graduating from our Paris School of Arts and Culture (PSAC), she has done research and writing for film projects and launched the Zodiac Film Club in London. Read about Sarah’s experience studying at PSAC and her time in Paris in our interview with her below.

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

I’m from London (born in Essex) and I’d wanted to spend some time living in Paris since I could remember. I began working straight after my BA, and after about five years I started feeling a bit lost, and knew I wanted to spend some time writing and researching and take a break from the hustle. I had a couple of ideas I thought I could turn into a thesis, and started looking around for a Master’s degree.

What attracted you most about studying at PSAC?

Of course it was the ‘living in Paris’ bit, but I’m really glad I got to experience learning in Kent’s film department as well. I did one semester commuting into Kent (very early morning trains) and then two in Paris. My best friend had moved to Paris a couple of years before, so I was excited to join her for a bit. I also just really needed a change, since I’d grown up, studied and worked in London.

What were some of the highlights of your experience?

My favourite place on earth is The American Library in Paris, I’d go there every weekend and read crime novels to relax. I loved Paris’ cinema culture, it’s so affordable and they show an incredible range of films. I met some really clever and interesting people who I’m terrible at keeping in contact with, but when we do see each other it’s like no time has passed. I think it was really good for me to lead a small life; a few friends, classes, books, the cinema, living alone in the tiniest flat I’ve ever seen. It taught me a lot about how much (or how little) I need to be happy.

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

A lot of things. Primarily I write and research. When I got back to London, I applied for a job as an image and editorial researcher on a book about London’s 100 Club and got it, so for months I was finding and interviewing people and trying to get them to send me photographs of them in the club in the 80s. That’s led to a few other research and writing jobs. I also have some copywriting jobs for brands and websites which I’ve found I like a lot. Real writing is 90% hideous and 10% satisfying, but copywriting is like word maths; there’s usually a correct answer and it’s pretty difficult to take it personally. I do write properly sometimes, mostly about film. I wish I did more but I’m a bit of a procrastinator when it comes to pitching.

The other thing I did when I came home was start a film club with a friend. It was very much inspired by cinema culture in Paris–the way I saw a ton of films I would never have otherwise watched. We thought it would just be us and our friends at first, but we grew quite an audience and it led to writing jobs and other interesting opportunities. I’m not totally sure what this is going to be yet but I’d like to grow this more. Dr Tamar Jeffers McDonald at the Kent Campus runs this amazing conference called Gothic Feminism that I look forward to attending again if it continues post-Covid, but it was my first time there that made me realise that what I’m passionate about is delivering an academic approach to a subject in an accessible way to people who aren’t academics. That’s what Zodiac is about, that and very girly, trashy films. And overall I think PSAC encourages that combination of academia and real life.

Do you think that your studies at PSAC helped with your career prospects?

I think careers and creative development are not necessarily the same thing. This might be a disappointing answer but I’m not sure young people have a ton of control over their career prospects at this particular moment in time, and that’s something we should try not to let damage our view of ourselves. I think everything I’ve learned about work I’ve learned from working. What’s great about PSAC is that it’s really valuable time outside of those kinds of parameters. If you want to do something creative, having something that you’re really interested in and honing your ability to explore and communicate it tends to lead to things in life, whether that’s like minded people or interesting work. That’s what I think studying at PSAC develops. Unless of course you want to continue in academia, and then I can’t imagine anywhere nicer to do that.

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

I definitely would. I would tell them laundrettes are the best place to practice French, to eat as many chouquettes as possible because you’ll miss them when you leave, that nannying is a really difficult job but a good way to build character. And to just enjoy themselves.

Merci beaucoup Sarah!

Connect with Sarah here:

@sarahkcleaver

@zodiacfilmclub

Alternative Places to See Art in Paris

There are literally hundreds of wonderful museums in Paris, however, art in Paris isn’t only about the studying the past. You can experience today’s art scene in Paris is by visiting some of the city’s more eclectic art venues. From former squats to art centres in repurposed historic buildings, here are some unique places to see art in Paris and perhaps discover the Picassos and Matisses of tomorrow.

Le Centquatre. Photo: Jean-Pierre Dalbéra / CC

Le Centquatre

Located in the working class 19^th district, this former municipal undertaker’s building dating to the 1870s, was restored and reopened as an art centre in 2008. The sprawling venue hosts art exhibits, concerts, film screenings, dance performances, lectures and community events. It is also home to three cafés, including the hidden Café Caché as well as a bookstore and charity shop.

La Halle Saint Pierre

Tucked away beneath Sacré-Coeur Basilica in Montmartre, this art space, occupying a former market hall, has been dedicated to “art brut”, or outsider art since 1995. In puts on several larger scale exhibits per year as well as smaller monthly shows featuring contemporary local artists. It has has an art-focused bookstore and lovely café where you can flip through your new book purchases or contemplate the art you’ve just viewed.

59 Rivoli (above and top photo). Facebook

59 Rivoli

A short walk from the most traditional of Paris’s art museums, the Louvre, is this quirky venue. One of the oldest squats in Paris, in 1999 a group of artists took over this abandoned Crédit Lyonnais Bank building. After years spent trying to evict them, the squatters won and the Marie de Paris (the Paris City Hall) bought the building and turned it into an official establishment in 2009. The unmissable building now has an art gallery on the street level, but the real fun is had roaming through the thirty plus art studios distributed over its six floors. Entrance is on a donation basis and the public can visit it from 1-8 pm from Tuesday to Sunday.

Le Générale Nord-Est / Facebook

La Générale Nord-Est

This association was first located within a defunct power plant in the 11^th arrondissement before moving to the 14th district. Another project endorsed by the the Marie de Paris, the association deems itself as a laboratory on artistic, political and social creation. The site has an active programme of exhibits as well as concerts, theatre shows and conferences, which are always open to anyone and with a “pay what you can” policy. See their website calendar for these events.

DOC! Photo: Franck Arnault / Facebook

DOC!

This art centre occupies a former technical high school in also in 19th district, near Place des Fetes. The spacious 3000-square meter complex includes 24 workshops, two temporary artist residences, five shared workshops for woodworking, metal-working, print-making, theatre and video post-production. These art forms and the artists in residents are showcased in the venues regularly changing exhibits.

Le Plateau Paris / Facebook

Le Plateau

Another art venue in the 19^th arrondissement, this exhibition space is Paris’s branch of the FRAC, a French governmental organisation that supports and promotes contemporary art. In addition to having regular exhibits, especially by younger artists, the centre has outreach and education projects and a curator in residence programme.

Art in Paris goes beyond indoor spaces as well. Learn more about street art in our blog on top street artists in Paris.

Sophie Mackintosh Named Writer in Residence 2021

The Paris School of Arts and Culture and the American University of Paris are pleased to announce that Sophie Mackintosh has been appointed to the third Paris Writer’s Residency. We look forward to welcoming her to the French capital in October to work with students at both our universities and to join our community of writers.

Sophie Mackintosh was born in South Wales in 1988, and is currently based in London. Her fiction, essays and poetry have been published by Granta, The White Review, The New York Times and The Stinging Fly, among others. Her debut novel The Water Cure was published by Hamish Hamilton in the UK in Spring 2018 and by Doubleday in the US in early 2019, and was long-listed for the Man Booker Prize. Her second novel Blue Ticket was published in Summer 2020 to critical acclaim.

During the month-long residency Mackintosh will be leading workshops at the Paris School of Arts and Culture and the American University of Paris, and to give a public reading at the Centre Culturel Irlandais.

Learn more about our Creative Writing Master’s Programme in Paris here.

Best Small Museums in Paris

Paris may be home to some of the most famous museums on the planet, but in addition to big names like the Louvre, the Musée d’Orsay and the Centre Pompidou, the city has hundreds of wonderful smaller museums. Often located in former mansions or the residence of the famous person who once inhabited the space, these unique venues have much fewer visitors than the large museums and offer a more intimate setting in which to connect with art or history.

Jacquemart-Andre Museum / Facebook

Musée Jacquemart-André

There are a number of fabulous museums in Paris located within former mansions and this is one of the loveliest and it also has a spectacular art collection. Much of the mid-19th century development of new Paris was taking place in the west of the city and the area around new Park Monceau was becoming a highly coveted district for the wealthy Parisians. It is thus not surprising that banker Edouard André bought a plot of land here to build his flamboyant mansion. He and his future wife, Nelie Jacquemart, would dedicated the rest of their lives to filling its exquisite rooms with one of the world’s most important private art collections, including works by Botticelli, Tiepolo, Rembrandt, Fragonard and Canaletto. In addition to the permanent collection, the museum hosts excellent temporary exhibits and has a chic courtyard café.

Musée Nissim de Camondo

Also in the Parc Monceau area, this sumptuous house museum was originally built in 1911 for Count Moise Nissim de Camondo, an influential banker and art collector. He decorated his spectacular mansion, inspired by the Petit Trianon at Versailles, with an impressive collection of 18th-century artwork and decorative art objects. After you tour its opulent interiors, you can take a stroll through the Parc Monceau, one of the few Paris parks which survived the French Revolution.

Marmottan Monet Museum

It’s worth trekking out to the far corner of the 16th arrondissement to visit this museum dedicated to Monet. The elegant mid 19th-century mansion was bought in 1882 by the successful businessman Jules Marmottan, who was also a passionate art collector. His son Paul bequeathed the home and his art collections to the Académie des Beaux-Arts in 1932. This collection was then greatly augmented upon the death of Michel Monet, Claude Monet’s youngest son, who donated over a hundred of his father’s paintings to the museum. This total ensemble now forms the world’s largest collection of Monet’s works.

Musée de la Vie Romantique

This lovely museum is found within the former home of Dutch painter Ary Scheffer. Built in 1830, the house became a central meeting point for the key figures of the “romantic era”, the house itself being in the centre of the era’s most popular neighborhood called New Athens. It attracted the likes of Georges Sand, Chopin, Eugène Delacroix, Jean Auguste Dominique Ingres and Franz Liszt, who are represented in the art and objects on display in the charming museum. After your visit enjoy a coffee its alluring garden café.

Musée Carnavalet (and top photo) / Facebook

Musée Carnavalet

Another favourite museum located in former mansions in the Marais, the Musée Carnavalet, is reopening at the end of May 2021 after four years of extensive renovations. Home to the Museum of the History of Paris, it chronicles the city’s 2,000 years of history through artefacts, paintings, historic documents and decorative objects. Don’t miss the reconstruction of writer Marcel Proust’s bedroom and take a moment to enjoy its pretty courtyard garden.

Musée Cognacq-Jay / Facebook

Musée Cognacq-Jay

Tucked away in the heart of the Marais, this is another elegant house museum. Dating back to the 16th century, the elegant building hosts a notable collection of decorative art and paintings from the 18th century (which is free to visit), along with temporary exhibits (paid). It also has a lovely summertime café and gorgeous back garden.

There are many other wonderful small museums in Paris and we will be gathering former art-studio museums in an another upcoming article.

Creative Writing Lecturer Yelena Moskovich Publishes New Book

We are very pleased to share the news of the publication of the new book of Yelena Moskovich, author, playwright and lecturer in our Creative Writing Master’s Programme in Paris. Released on 18 May, 2021, A Door Behind a Door follows Yelena’s debut novel, The Natashas, which received much critical praise, and her second book, Virtuoso, which was longlisted for the Dylan Thomas Prize.

“Moskovich mystifies with this vivid story of a pair of estranged siblings who immigrated to Milwaukee from the Soviet Union as children in 1991… The dynamic style and psychological depth make this an engaging mind bender.” – Publishers Weekly

A Door Behind a Door tells the story of Olga, an émigré from the former Soviet Union whose stable life in Milwaukee, Wisconsin is overturned after she receives a surprising phone call from a figure of her past. This sparks haunting childhood memories revolving around an unexplained murder, a supernatural stray dog, and the mystery over the disappearance of her brother. As Olga attempts to reconcile with these, she must also evade the underground Midwestern Russian mafia, in pursuit of a series of stabbings.

There are two upcoming opportunities to hear Yelena speak about A Door Behind a Door. On Wednesday, 26 May at 2 pm (Central Time, 10 PM Paris time) Yelena will be discussing her new book with author Kate Zambreno during a Boswell Books virtual event. More on the event and registration at this link. Yelena will also be the guest of the author event during our upcoming Postgraduate Festival. On Friday, 4 June at 6 pm (Paris time), Yelena will be in conversation with our Creative Writing students Emily Nicholson and Neda Popova. Register for this free event here and learn more about the festival on its website.

A Door Behind a Door is available directly from her publisher, Two Dollar Radio, at Shakespeare and Company bookstore in Paris or ask for it at your local independent bookstore.

Escapism: Paris Postgraduate Festival 2021 Programme

Students at the Paris School of Arts and Culture are excited to present this year’s edition of our postgraduate festival, taking place virtually from 1-5 June 2021.

This year the theme is Escapism and you can find a taster of what is planned below. You can also see the full programme on the festival website by clicking on the button below. Please note that all times are Paris local time (CEST) and are free to attend, although advance registration is required via the links below.

Further details about the programme on the festival website or stay up to date by following the festival’s social media accounts: Facebook / Instagram.

Paris Postgraduate Festival Programme: 1-5 June 2021

Drag and Escapism: Tuesday, 1 June at 6:30 pm

Does drag provide a way for artists to inhabit another persona and escape from outdated gender roles? Or is it an outward embodiment of a true self? We are delighted to present a discussion on escapism and drag with Charity Kase and Rosie Zinfandel as the kick off to this year’s festival.

Charity Kase is a London based artist and performer with a punk aesthetic and taste for nightmarish beauty. Charity first garner attention in 2017 when they completed a 365-day drag challenge, creating a new character look every day of the year. Rosie Zinfandel made headlines in 2019 by being crowned one of the three queens in the UK’s first ever drag queen pageant. This rousing conversation will be followed by a Q&A session with Charity and Rosie.

Register for the event here.

A Conversation with Artist Scout Roll: Wednesday, 2 June at 5:00 pm

Join us for a conversation with Scout Gibbons Roll. Scout is an American artist, painter and illustrator. For their work, they use crypto currency and non-fungible tokens (NFTs) in order to create a unique value and identity for each artwork they produce. Our conversation will explore the ways in which an artist can escape through their work, as well as how art itself can escape its traditional confines through the transition into a digital form.

Register for the event here.

Film Screening and Director Q&A: Paris Stalingrad by Hind Meddeb: Thursday, 3 June at 8:00 pm

The festival is proudly partnering with Lost in Frenchlation, organisers of French film screenings with English subtitles, for the screening of Paris-Stalingrad, a documentary by Hind Meddeb. The film documents the plight of refugees camping in the Stalingrad district of Paris while waiting to regularise their situation. It offers powerful insight into modern day immigration and the hardships faced by those seeking to escape their circumstances and find refuge in Paris. In keeping with the festival’s theme of Escapism, the film provides multifaceted view into the human rights struggles that exist for disenfranchised peoples on a global scale. Learn more about the film and watch the trailer at this link.

Free tickets limited to the first 50 sign-ups. Register here.

A Conversation with Yelena Moskovich: Friday, 4 June at 6:00 pm

We are thrilled to host a conversation with Paris-based writer Yelena Moskovich. Yelena was born in Ukraine (former USSR) and immigrated to Wisconsin with her family as Jewish refugees in 1991. She studied theatre at Emerson College, Boston, and in France at the Lecoq School of Physical Theatre and Université Paris 8. She is the author of The Natashas and Virtuoso, which was longlisted for the Dylan Thomas Prize.

This discussion will include a reading from her upcoming book A Door Behind a Door (to be released in the US on 18 May) and will touch upon personal forms of escapism and ways to keep creative during lockdown. It will be followed by a Q&A about life, writing, and literature. It isn’t necessary to have read Yelena’s books to participate, however, if you’re interested, they can be purchased directly from her publisher, at Shakespeare and Company in Paris or at your local independent bookstore.

Register for the event here.

The Menteur Launch: Saturday, 5 June at 7:00 pm

Come and discover what the students have been working on all year! The Menteur is a literary and arts magazine, founded in 2012, edited and produced annually by postgraduate students at the University of Kent’s Paris School of Arts and Culture.

This year’s edition, Art Rewired, features work that engages or challenges ideas/dichotomies of solitude and interconnectivity felt during the pandemic. How is a world pushing against social contact rewiring our definition of connection and collaboration? The virtual launch will reveal the magazine for the first time and include performances of some of the pieces in this year’s edition.

Register for the event here.

We are warmly inviting you to our online escape and look forward to welcoming you at the festival events.

Stay safe,
University of Kent Paris Festival Team