The Third House is an in-between space between home, homeland, and the imagined future home, where Arab diaspora voices can explore identity, intergenerational memory, cultural landscapes, language, and belonging through creative practice and poetic writing.

Devised and run by Amina Atiq, a Yemeni-British poet, teaching artist, and creative practitioner, this participant-led online course engages creative methodologies including oral storytelling, body mapping, photovoice and ghazal poetry; offering an opportunity to actively explore and produce knowledge shaped by stories carried, lived, and imagined.

It is an evolving process of story-making and the creation of a living archive of the Third House, culminating in a piece of poetry, in the form of a ghazal, with themes emerging through each participant’s individual process throughout the sessions.

Who this course is for

This course is designed for individuals with a connection to the Arab world* (18+) from diaspora, exile, or immigrant backgrounds.

You don’t need prior experience as a writer or poet but a willingness to write and interest in exploring identity through creative expression is essential.

The course will be delivered in English and any Arabic text provided will be accompanied by an English translation. Speaking Arabic is not essential and bringing your “broken” Arabic is encouraged!

Group size and wellbeing

Sessions will not be recorded and the group size will be capped at 10, to ensure a more personal and supportive space for all participants.

We will explore themes that may be challenging or emotionally triggering, but we are committed to creating an environment where you feel safe and supported. If there’s anything The Arab British Centre can do to help you feel more comfortable, please don’t hesitate to reach out. Our hope is that this course will be a space for creative joy and expression, where you can listen, share, and engage in meaningful dialogue with others.

*Geographically defined by the 22 member states of the Arab League: Algeria, Bahrain, Comoros, Djibouti, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, and Yemen.

Find out more about the weekly sessions and book your place here.

Book your place now!

Launch price £225

Was £250, 10% launch discount applied

Book here

Concession price £187.50

25% off a full price course place. For students or those on lower incomes

Book here

Our pricing reflects a commitment to fairly paying artists and coursemakers, whilst also supporting the work of the Arab British Centre, which is a registered charity. We offer a concession discount to help ensure accessibility to our courses.