Courses
Creative Writing Academy Curaçao offers high-level tuition in intensive courses. You will be taught by teachers who all have extensive experience.
Creative Writing Academy Curaçao is is an initiative of the renowned writing schools ArtEZ university of the arts in the Netherlands and Escuela de Escritores in Madrid, Spain, and the literary organisations Wintertuin Curaçao and Wintertuin Netherlands.
Each September and March, we offer Creative Writing courses with lots of possibilities to learn new skills.
Our courses are open to beginners as well as more advanced students.
Courses September 2024
Between September 23 - October 4 2024 we offer three courses:
1 New Voices: creative writing course for young writers.
Language: Papiamentu. Teacher: Joeri Oltheten (hiphop writer, community builder and artistic director)
2 Starting Writers: creative writing course to boost your writing skills
Language: Dutch/English Teacher: Dennis Gaens (poet and podcaster, teacher of Creative Writing at ArtEZ university of the arts in Holland).
3 Advanced Writers Class: next steps in your writing project
Language: Dutch Teacher: Frank Tazelaar (artistic director and head of Creative Writing at ArtEZ university of the arts)
Courses and Levels
1 The New Voices course is aiming at young writers, with ambition to become storytellers, spoken word artists or new voices for series, book or film. Language: Papiamentu.
2. The starting writers course will be open to different levels of participants. If you are beginning to write, you will get less complex writing exercises. If you already have some experience, the writing exercises and guidance will be adjusted to your level. Language: Dutch.
3. The advanced writers class is open to former participants or more advanced writers working on a project. We will work on the next level of your project. In advance you will receive a writing assignment. Language: Dutch
dates
1 young voices courses MONDAY 23/9, TUESDAY 24/9, WEDNESDAY 25/9*, THURSDAY 26/9, MONDAY 30/6, WEDNESDAY 2/10 *) extra lecture
HOURS: 18 – 21
LOCATION: Triangle, Otrabanda
2 starting writers MONDAY 23/9, TUESDAY 24/9, WEDNESDAY 25/9*, THURSDAY 26/9, MONDAY 30/6, WEDNESDAY 2/10**, THURSDAY 3/10
HOURS: 18 – 21
LOCATION: Triangle, Otrabanda
3 advanced writers TUESDAY 24/9, WEDNESDAY 25/9*, THURSDAY 26/9, MONDAY 30/6, WEDNESDAY 2/10**, FRIDAY 4/10
HOURS: 18 – 21
LOCATION: Triangle, Otrabanda
*) extra lecture **) individual feedback
content
Our Creative Writing courses introduce a number of basic concepts in writing, as ‘show don’t tell’, poetica, chronotope, how to craft a character, narrative tense, and plot structure. The classes will be a combination of theory and writing exercises. You will work during the classes, but you will also need to do homework to really achieve progress in your writing project.
All courses allow you to write in your own language:—Papiamentu, Spanish, Dutch and English. Multilingual tutors will be in attendance to assist with the discussion of the texts.
extra activities
Every course is concluded with a joint presentation.
At the start of the writing weeks in september we visit the Wintertuin Curaçao Festival, featuring writers and performers from different countries.
The writing weeks in wintertime (March 2025) will have an intensive writing retreat of 3 days, on a special island location.
Teachers
Organization
Dates & Prices
Summer Courses 2024
Winter Courses 2025
Rates
The fee for the New Voices writing course for young writers is 100 euro/ 200 ANG
The fee for the Starting writers (second level) course is: 500 euro / 1000 ANG
Inhabitants of Curaçao, Aruba, Bonaire: 300 euro / 600 ANG
The fee for the Advanced Writers course is: 500 euro / 1000 ANG
Inhabitants of Curaçao, Aruba, Bonaire: 300 euro / 600 ANG
The fee covers 6 days of tuition and extra mentoring. The course will be concluded with a joint presentation. You also get a an additional masterclass on writing and literature.
The course is also an opportunity for expanding your network. During joint activities you will get to know both the other course participants and the teachers and representatives of the various organizations involved.
Students with a valid student ID are eligible for an extra discount. We also offer scholarships and discounts for local writers. If needed, you can indicate this on the enrolment form.
Scholarship
There is are scholarships and discounts available for participants of every course. This scholarship consists of a discount on the course fee. The scholarship will be awarded on the merit of your motivation letter.
Accommodation
You need to make your own travel and accommodation arrangements.
You can send us an email if you want any suggestions on other accommodation. We can help you find a nice place to stay and help with local transportation. We can also help you connect with other students, to share accommodation and transport.
Apply for selection
COUNT ME IN!
How does it work?
1. Fill in the form on the right to enroll in one of the two courses.
Choose between:
- New voices writing course for young writers
- Creative Writing for starting writers
- Second Level Project Course for advanced writers
2. Write us your motivation.
3. We will review your application and send you confirmation of your participation
4. We will send you a payment request and a schedule of classes via email.
(Advanced writers will receive a writing assignment.)
DEADLINE enrollment Summercourses: september 10
The maximum number of students per course is 15.
So enroll in time!
Please fill in all required fields, these are marked with an asterisk (*).
FAQ
Courses
What are the hours of the course?
The courses will take place at Triangle in Otrobanda, between 18.00 and 21.00 hours. With exception of the individual feedback sessions, these are during the day.
How much time do I need to reserve for homework?
You need to read texts, and write on your project. You will have to reserve some extra hours during the week or weekend to write.
What is the level acquired for participating?
Young voice writers are beginning writers who have little or no experience but the ambition to write and tell their story.
As starting writer, you can participate as a beginner without prior experience in creative writing, but you can also participate if you already have some experience in creative writing. The exercises and guidance will then be adjusted to your level.
Advanced writers have taken creative writing courses before, or have a publication to their credit.
Do I need to buy books or any other practical school props?
You need to bring material to write, that can be a laptop or a paper notebook.
What is included?
Included: 5 Classes, 1 individual session, 1 lecture, and of course the final presentation of the course.
Not included: meals, drinks, transportation, accommodation.
Can I write in my own language?
Yes! All courses allow you to write in your own language:
* Papiamentu, Dutch (Nederlands) and English.
Multilingual tutors will be in attendance to assist with the discussion of the texts.
Activities
Are there any group activities?
We will attend a lecture together, and of course we will go to the famous Avila Beach hotel on the last Thursday evening to listen to the music and have diner together.
Accommodation and transportation
For visitors: do you have accomodation tips
https://www.poppyhostelcuracao.com/ - located in Otrobanda.
budget hostel with shared facilities starts at € 20 per night.
https://www.firstcuracaohostel.com/en/ - located in Scharloo.
Nice location, modern hostel with dorms - starts at € 20 per night.
http://bed-breakfast-la-creole-hostel-la-creole.business.site/ - locaterd at Berg Altena
Bed & breakfast, not to close to the University though (takes about 15/20 minutes) – starts at €30 per night.
http://rian-appartementen.com/en/home - located in Julianadorp.
Small appartments, starts at € 30 per night.
https://www.willemstad-resort.com/ - located in Otrobanda,
No nonsense resort, also has a car rental services.
Rooms start at € 30 per night.
http://dan-sher-apartments.all-hotels-in-curacao.com - located in Souax.
Between the airport and the University starts at € 30 per night.
http://www.annidas.com/ located in Julianadorp.
Starts at € 55 per night.
https://www.kasdiala.com/curacao/ located in Julianadorp
Starts at € 80 per night.
Contact
For more information email:
ArtEZ Creative Writing
Onderlangs 9, 6812 CE Arnhem
f.tazelaar@artez.nl
Wintertuin Curaçao
Steenkoolweg 16, Willemstad Curaçao joeri@wintertuin.nl
Escuela des Ecritores
Covarrubias, 1 (Bajo Dcha), Madrid