Organized by Hungerford Library in association with Hungerford Hub, Hungerford Bookshop and Arts for Hungerford.
A celebration of poetry with a varied programme of events including an exhibition of poetry by local writers (why not submit a poem!), a Poetry Writing Workshop, a Town Poetry Trail, and the opportunity to take part in creating a community poem!
Plus Performance Poetry – An Open Mic night, two professional stand up poetry nights.
Poetry Exhibition
Sat 2 – Sat 16 March
Hungerford Hub & Library Building
An exhibition of poetry by local writers during library opening hours plus Sat 9 March 12:30 – 5pm.
Do you enjoy writing poetry? Contribute to the Festival by writing your own poem for display! Poems can be on any subject – celebrating Hungerford, its community, the library, the local countryside or any theme of your choice.
Send your poems by email to hungerfordlibrary@westberks.gov.uk, by post to the library at Church Street, Hungerford RG17 0JG, or drop them off at any West Berkshire library.
Sat 2 – Sat 16 March Town Poetry Trail
Start at Hungerford Library when you like, picking up your Poetry Trail Guide.
Follow the treasure trail of poems around the town, answer a question for each poem and return your answers to the Library. All correct entries will be entered into a Prize draw. The selected entry will win a Poetry Anthology.
Sat 2 – Sat 16 March Be part of creating a Community Poem to celebrate Hungerford!
To get involved look out for the postcards in the Library, Hungerford Bookshop and around town on which you can send us your thoughts, memories and comments about what Hungerford means to you.
A local poet will then create a poem based on those ideas which will be permanently displayed as a mural in the library and enjoyed by the whole community for years to come.
Sat 2 March 10.30-1pm Poetry-Writing Workshop
Hungerford Hub & Library Building
Join award-winning local writer, Nicola Chester, for a Walking-Writing Poetry Workshop, with Hungerford as our muse. We’ll have a go at some fun, accessible and enjoyable writing exercises, have a wander together around Hungerford (to include some of its wonderful natural highlights) and begin to craft our poems. Open to all 14+ years.
Nicola Chester is a Guardian Country Diarist, a columnist for Countryfile Magazine and the RSPB, and wrote Nature Notes for the Newbury Weekly News for 20 years. She is also an award-winning author of On Gallows Down, has contributed to several anthologies, and is School Librarian and Writer in Residence at John O’Gaunt School, Hungerford. In her spare time (shhh…) she writes poetry.
More information …
We’ll begin with a brief discussion on what poetry means to us, and do some confidence-building ‘warm-up’ writing exercises in the library at Hungerford Hub. We’ll then go for a gentle ‘notebook’ walk around Hungerford, making ‘inquiries’ into nature, imagery and what the town means to us. We’ll then return to The Hub to start planning and writing our poems – with a view to exhibiting them in Hungerford Library. Do dress for the weather and gentle walking, and bring something to write on and with, and any ideas you may already have (the latter is optional!) All welcome!
Thu 7 March 7.00pm – Open Mic Night £5 – Free for performers
Hungerford Hub & Library Building
Why not perform some of your own poetry in this open mic event? The evening promises to be informal and friendly with ambient lighting and refreshments. No experience necessary, and you don’t have to perform, but we’d love you to!
artsforhungerford.com 