Calling wannabe poets to explore identity and belonging
Budding poets are invited to take part in two poetry events
Budding poets are in demand to share their thoughts at two poetry events in Islington organised by Birkbeck. Anyone interested in creative writing is invited to reflect on their ideas about place and identity as part of the sessions held at Islington’s Central Library.
Tips on writing poetry will be shared by poets from Birkbeck’s School of Arts as part of the Try It programme, which provides free support and advice for prospective students. Called Where We’re From, Who We Are, the poetry events are free and open to all, and you do not need any previous writing experience.
Participants will also be able to find out more about the popular Creative Writing courses taught at Birkbeck - London’s only specialist provider of evening higher education. Prospective students without traditional qualifications are encouraged to apply for Certificates of Higher Education, and undergraduate degrees.
Anthony Joseph, a British-Trinidadian poet, novelist, musician and lecturer at Birkbeck, will lead the practical poetry workshop on Monday 22 April from 6pm-7:30pm. A selection of poems will be performed during the second poetry event as part of Islington’s Word 2013 Festival.
Joseph said: “Identity and belonging mean so much to all of us. Our backgrounds – where we were born, where our parents and grandparents were born and where we live – shape our sense of ourselves and how we express that sense of self. We all have unique stories to tell and we want to hear your ideas, and help you develop and express them.”
Joseph was chosen as one of the 50 writers who have influenced the Black-British writing canon over the past 50 years by Decibel, Renaissance One and The Arts Council of England in 2004. Workshop participants will have the chance to read their poetry at the poetry performance event on Wednesday 1 May from 6pm-7:30pm. This second event will also feature the work of students on Birkbeck’s Creative Writing programme. The session will be hosted by Liane Strauss, an Anglo-American poet and Head of Poetry at Birkbeck. She is the author of Leaving Eden and Frankie, Alfredo, a guest poet on the Clive James website and the editor of Poets Reading Poets on The Writers’ Hub.
Book your place
Poetry workshop
Monday 22 April, 6pm-7:30pm
Islington Central Library, 2 Fieldway Crescent, Islington, London, N5 1PF
Poetry performance
Wednesday 1 May, 6pm-7:30pm
Islington Central Library, 2 Fieldway Crescent, Islington, London, N5 1PF
Register online for your place at these free events at Islington’s Central Library, or call Kate Potts on 020 7380 3112.