My diary posts are the place for a bit of my news, poetry community news, plus my adventures in creativity
Am in the midst of a long overdue break however here’s a few pointers to the events in the poetry world this month. I’m going to be away for a while on a combined research trip/ yoga holiday hoping to return enthused, strong and rested before embarking on my MA in Writing Poetry at the Poetry School later in the month.
OUT NOW
indiom by Daljit Nagra
Publisher: Faber & Faber
“Daljit Nagra’s mock epic scrutinises the legacies of Empire and issues such as power and status, casteism and colourism, mimicry and mockery. What is Britishness now? How can humour help us survive hardship? The result is a capacious ‘talkie’/poem/play of resistance and redress whose ludic structures defy boundaries: a story of intertextual and misplaced identities, gods and miracles, celluloid tragedy and blushing romantic desire amid an awkwardly rolling cricket ball and rioting poodles.”
COMING UP LONDON
An innovative youth event that asks
Who is AI, what is AI, is AI a friend or an enemy?
Come down for a special Poetry Luv showcase as part of Science Gallery London’s current season AI: Who’s Looking After Me? Science Gallery, to January 20, 2024
New work created by the poets that was written as part of a short residency at Science Gallery London. During the residency, the spoken word artists met with AI researchers at King’s College London to debate topics ranging from how AI will affect our justice, healthcare and education systems, to questioning whether it’s possible to fix bias in AI.
The event will kick-off with Poetry Luv’s usual open-mic slot, before leading into the AI: Who’s Looking After Me? poems and discussion.
POETRY LUV is a poetry and spoken word platform for up and coming artists. @poetryluv
INDIGO YOUTH is a not for profit organisation set up to deliver projects for disadvantaged young people in Lambeth and neighbouring London Boroughs. Projects focus on music, creative arts, mentorship and enterprise. @indigoyouthltd
This collaboration is part of Science Gallery London’s Creative Project Grants programme for local 18 – 25s and King’s students.
FREE entry
Science Gallery London is a place to grow new ideas across art, science and health. It is King’s College London’s unique public space that brings together academics, researchers, students, artists and local communities. Science Gallery London presents exhibitions, events, performances, live experiments, open discussions and festivals.
EXHIBITION
A timely exhibition as we see fire and flood across Greece and beyond from Gideon Mendel, entitled Fire / Flood
© Gideon Mendel
Since 2007, award-winning South African photographer Gideon Mendel has been travelling around the world photographing the devastating impact of climate catastrophes, focusing on flooding and wildfires. Over the past 15 years, he’s made 20 trips to flooded areas, most recently spending time in Nigeria and Pakistan.
Mendel said: “My subjects… are showing the world the calamity that has befallen them. They are not victims in this exchange: the camera records their dignity and resilience. They bear witness to the brutal reality that the poorest people on the planet almost always suffer the most from climate change.” The Photographers’ Gallery, to September 30; thephotographersgallery.org.uk
NURTURING YOUR PRACTICE
From Poets for the Planet
Workshop Sunday 17th September
Campaign Sunday 24th September
All details in the link.
#StopTheSewage #ClimateEmergency #WorldRiversDay
From the Poetry Society
Catch the last month of Feedback on your poems: Poetry 1-2-1 Sessions, July – September 2023 from the Poetry Society
Saturday 1 July 2023, 8:00 am – Saturday 30 September 2023, 5:00 pm
£10.00 – £72.00
“A one-to-one feedback session with an established poet offers a relaxed but in-depth analysis of up to 150 lines of your poetry.
It’s a unique opportunity to identify strategies for further developing your writing, discuss problems you may be experiencing and look at strategies for taking your work forward. There will be plenty time to talk about all those things you need to know about writing, revising and submitting your work.
Most feedback sessions take place online. Now Covid restrictions have lifted, some poets are offering in-person sessions again. These have a £10 supplementary fee to cover poets’ travel time and costs. Maggie Sawkins offers in-person sessions in the Isle of Wight, Carole Bromley in central York, J C Niala in Oxford, Judy Brown in London and Alison Chisholm within a 25 mile radius of Stockport.
When you have booked a session, The Poetry Society will put you directly in touch with the poet to arrange a mutually convenient date, time and (if relevant) place. Please note that this will entail swapping your email address with the poet.”
Details about poets running feedback sessions are here.
Please contact info@poetrysociety.org.uk with any queries.
A HEADS-UP
This year’s National Poetry Day is on Thursday 5 October 2023. The theme for National Poetry Day 2023 is Refuge.
If you’re a teacher, inviting a poet into your school is one of the best ways to celebrate National Poetry Day. We’d love to find you the perfect poet for your students through our Poets in Schools service: make an enquiry today.
The Poetry Society’s Stanza competition, open to all Stanza members who are also members of The Poetry Society, is on the theme of ‘Refuge’ and the winners will be announced on National Poetry Day. The competition is judged by Gwyneth Lewis, and the deadline is Monday 4 September.
#amwriting about smoke and air
#amreading about wildfires and it’s not for the faint hearted believe me
A blog post by Anne Enith Cooper
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