Team - Qisetna

About Qisetna

Sharing stories from Syria

With stories from the narrow alleys of Old Damascus to the cotton fields of Deir Ezzor, Qisetna is at the frontier of Syrian arts and culture, a place where ordinary people write about their precious memories and so reclaim their cultural identity.

Qisetna touches people from New York and Stockholm to Cairo and Tokyo, sharing not only Syria’s ancient oral heritage – the art of hakawati (storytelling) – but also the most recent works of its contemporary artists.

The stories here have become an important archive of Syrian experience which has been recognised by the Community Archive and Heritage Group of the Year award in 2017.

Qisetna’s work includes storytelling workshops for young people in Syria and Turkey, UK storytelling workshops to share culture and build community and appearances at the Scottish International Storytelling Festival.

Submissions and enquiries are welcome. Please share your story or contact [email protected] for more information.

#Unite4Heritage: Talking Syria
For Syrians overseas, simple things like staying in touch with home can be extremely difficult. These young Syrians in London are writing stories and articles online to allow people from Syria to keep up-to-date, and others to learn about the amazing and unique culture of the country. An inspiring example of how everyone can come together to #Unite4Heritage – learn how you can contribute at http://www.unite4heritage.org/You can visit Talking Syria here: https://www.qisetna.com/Filmed at Leighton House Museum, London.
Posted by UNESCO on Monday, March 7, 2016