Slemani (Iraq) and Exeter (United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland), two UNESCO Creative Cities of Literature designated in 2019, jointly launched a series of virtual talks focusing on various aspects of Kurdish culture.

Building on the power of literature for intercultural dialogue, mutual understanding and sustainable urban development, the webinars invite a wide range of stakeholders including poets, publishers, archivists, photojournalists, historians and other academic scholars, to share their stories and expertise on diverse themes including translation, poetry as well as photography in conflict zones.

These webinars are a result of the new partnership established between Kashkul, the center for arts and culture based at the American University of Iraq Sulaimani (AUIS) and the Institute of Arab and Islamic Studies (IAIS) at the University of Exeter.

While strengthening the inter-city cooperation between Slemani and Exeter, the webinars aim to provide opportunities for students and alumni to interact with high-level experts from the region and to further explore the multifaceted nature of literature.

The webinar series is being widely promoted via social media platforms with each session being broadcasted live on the AUIS YouTube channel.