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Programme focus: Communities of Hope

«Ich möchte nicht die perfekte Geschichte schreiben»
Mani Owzar

Covid Safe SpaceWorkshop

Writing anew, writing again, writing differently – an open writing workshop without the pressure of perfection.

  • Sun 12/04 14:00 – 18:00

    Nordflügel

Mani Owzar invites to a writing workshop where ‘imperfect stories’ and new writing impulses have space. Copyright: Tren Guerrero
  • Relaxed Setting

As part of the programme focus Communities of Hope, Mani Owzar will facilitate a writing workshop. Mani invites participants with the following words:

This workshop is about writing ‘imperfect stories’. We may also find stories for which we have lacked the words until now. Perhaps you already write frequently but would like to try out a new style. Perhaps you used to write and would like to get back into the habit. Perhaps you have only toyed with the idea of putting something down on paper and this is your first step. All levels of experience are welcome. Suggestions will be offered, but participation is voluntary. If you like, you are welcome to share your text(s) to receive constructive feedback.

Schedule

  • Arriving and welcome (ca. 15 min) 

  • Impuls 1 and 2: “short and mid-lenght writing” (ca. 60 min) 

  • Voluntary sharing of texts (ca. 15 min) 

  • Break (30 min) 

  • Impuls 3: “short and mid-lenght writing” (ca. 75 min) 

  • Voluntary sharing of texts (ca. 30 min) 

  • Closing round (ca. 15 min)

Covid-safer event

All events in the programme focus Communities of Hope take place as Covid-safer events. Therefore, testing and masks are mandatory for this event. Tests and masks will be provided on site. You can find more information here.

Informationen zur Barrierefreiheit und Sprache

  • Stepless access

  • Language: In German spoken language

  • Relaxed Event: The participants are welcome to make noises, move, stim and leave the space and come back at any time.

  • Workshop by and with:
    Mani Owzar

  • Mani Owzar advocates for discrimination-sensitive spaces. It is particularly important to them that discrimination is considered intersectionally. Mani is a co-founder of Diversum, an association for anti-racist thinking. They are active in various projects in the fields of education and culture and are co-author of the book ‘No to racism’ (Foundations for an anti-racist school culture). Mani's second book, ‘Ich möchte nicht die perfekte Geschichte schreiben’ (english: ‘I don't want to write the perfect story’), which portrays queer people, was published in June 2025.

  • The programme focus Communities of Hope is supported by the Ernst Göhner Foundation.

Gessnerallee programme focus 2025/26

From 9 to 18 April, the programme focus ‘Communities of Hope’ at Gessnerallee invites you to explore practices of solidarity and hopeful strategies for community building, and to celebrate queer aesthetics. All events will take place in a Covid-safer format.

«Belonging Space»
Stephanie Müller & Theres Indermaur
09/04 18/04
Installation, Resting space

«MASTEKTOMIE. Ein bittersüsses Abschiedslied»
CHICKS* freies performancekollektiv
09/04, 10/04
Performance

«Ich möchte nicht die perfekte Geschichte schreiben»
Mani Owzar
11/04
Reading

«Anouchka Gwen»
11/04
Concert

«Ich möchte nicht die perfekte Geschichte schreiben»
Mani Owzar
12/04
Writing workshop

«Zusammensein. Plädoyer für eine Gesellschaft der Gegenseitigkeit»
Hadija Haruna-Oelker
16/04
Reading

«JUICE»
River Roux
17/04, 18/04
Performance

More Shows

To the programme overview