Falmouth Poetry Group

Dear All,
May I draw your attention to these courses for Autumn 09 and Spring 10 at Chateau Ventenac.
Many thanks from
Penelope

Poetry and Creative Writing Courses at Chateau Ventenac
on the Canal du Midi in the South of France
10% Early Booking Discount
Our Tutors so far for Autumn 2009 and Spring 2010 are

Maurice Riordan
Sept 20th - 26th 2009
Pascale Petit
October 11th -17th 2009
Penny Shuttle
April 25th - May 1st 2010
Sean O’Brien
April 18th - 24th 2010

Chateau Ventenac sits beside the Canal du Midi in the South of France and offers fabulous views across the Vineyards towards the Pyrenees. It provides a haven of peace and tranquillity and is the perfect backdrop for our creative writing and poetry workshops.

Our poetry and creative writing courses will encourage you to explore what is important to you as a poet or a writer and will offer inspiration for new directions or help you to prepare for publication.

Chateau Ventenac Poetry and Writing tutors are experts in their field and are all experienced teachers. They will encourage you and work you hard during your week with them. Expect a week of dedicated work but also some fun and laughter in the perfect surroundings of the Chateau and Languedoc landscape.

Our Poetry courses offer intensive one on ones with your tutor and group workshop sessions with a maximum of ten participants.

The mornings will be spent in creative workshops and discussion’s while the afternoons are free for writing and for one-to-one tutorials .Your tutor will be on hand to chat informally throughout the course.

In the evenings the group meets up for more discussion, feedback and readings. There will also be a chance for constructive group feedback on your work and advice on editing and getting published.

Bring some of your existing work with you to share and to read in the evenings, as well as large notebooks and a laptop computer if you have one. We can provide photocopying and printing for a small cost to cover paper and ink! You are welcome to browse our library of books or use the computer to access the internet. If you bring a laptop we have wireless internet access.

Rooms are extremely comfortable and mostly south facing with fabulous views. Tea and coffee making facilities are available at all times. There are desks or tables for writing in all bedrooms and throughout the house and gardens you will find quiet spots where you can sit in peace to write or just think!

REGULAR WORKSHOPS IN CORNWAL

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FPG workshops continue, 2nd Monday of each month, 6.30 pm at Falmouth Library. Please send your poem by email for posting to Llinora fpgpoems@yahoo.co.uk If no email bring 10 - 12 copies to the meeting. Next meeting: Monday 11th May. No meetings in July or August. PLEASE NOTE EARLIER STARTING TIME

We are starting Open Mike sessions at Ponsanooth at The Stag Hunt pub on the 4th Monday of each month. Contact Robbie or just turn up. We hope to start on the 23rd March - watch this space.

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St.Ives Library Poetry Circle meets every 2nd Wednesday of the month from 1.00-2.00 pm. Its Aims are to develop appreciation and enjoyment of poetry. To talk about and read your own poems or other peoples’. To widen knowledge of poetry and poets or….. to just listen. No theme, just bring what you like.

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The Indian King Poets writing group meet most Mondays from 10 am - 12/12.30 pm in Helen Wood’s home in Camelford. They write together, discuss the process and product , then bring copies of work in progress for constructive criticism. £6 per session.

The group also organises day long workshops (10 am - 4 pm, bring your own lunch) with visiting poets which have places open to non-members. £30 full/£25 concessions.

Contact Helen on indianking@btconnect.com or 01840 212161 (evenings, please) if you’re interested in joining any of the day workshops, or in joining the Indian King Poets regularly or occasionally.

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Liskeard Poetry Group monthly meetings, Stuart House Liskeard. Check for date of these meetings as first Monday is bank holiday. Time 4:30 – 6:00ish. £1-50 per meeting attended plus 50p for refreshments. For more information, contact Ann Murphy (secretary) annfoweraker@yahoo.co.uk or phone 01579 350468

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Poetry Prom every month at 7:45 pm at The Centre, Chywoone Hill, Newlyn. These are evenings of poetry readings, including poems on a given theme. All are welcome – whether to contribute (own compositions epecially welcome) or just to listen and enjoy. Free admission with tea and coffee available.

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Penzance Stanza now meets on the first Monday in each Month at Penzance Arts Club Chapel Street Penzance at the earlier time of 7PM. For more information contact Howard Phillips 01736 366567

• The National Trust have invited us to put on a poetry event at Trengwainton on Wednesday the 26th of August 2009 between the hours of 11am and 4 pm
• The aim is to encourage the wider enjoyment of poetry, with the emphasis on family and all age participation. Remember it will be school holidays.
• ‘Serious’ poetry would definitely be appropriate too
• There will be poetry readings throughout the day
• The National Trust will publicise the event (So there could be radio and TV Coverage)
• Trengwainton will provide two Gazebos at different locations in the Gardens in which poets can perform or put on workshops
• Admission to the event would be by payment to Trengwainton on the gate at normal admission prices.

• There will be no charge for individual events.

• Participating poets would have free admission

• Any suggestions to how the day should go will also be useful

• If you would like to read at the event please let me now

• The next Stanza meeting is at Penzance Arts Club on Monday July 6th at 7pm

Howard Phillips (01736) 366567

SATURDAY 4TH JULY, 7-9PM
Poetry reading - Penelope Shuttle and Denise Mcsheehy
Sunday 5th July 11.15a m-1.15pm

Poetry workshop led by Penelope Shuttle.
Participants will be encouraged to use the paintings housed at Kettle’s Yard as inspiration.
Prior booking essential
For further information:
Web: www.kettlesyard.co.uk
E-mail: chrisrose_002@fsmail.net

Great Dialecticians
Cornish Community Poets
and
a free to entry leaflet for Great Trees of Cornwall competition
Issue priced at £3.95 or £11 for 3 issues.
paypal payment to: les.merton@tesco.net
or send your subscription to:
Poetry Cornwall
11a Penryn St,
Redruth,
TR15 2SP
Les Merton
Founder / Editor Poetry Cornwall
http://cdbaby.com/cd/lesmerton

Poetry/Writing Competition

Includes poetry, prose etc.
No more than 750 words
Entry FREE, no more than three entries per person
Haddow is holding an exhibition of mixed media work at The Poly, Church Street , Falmouth and welcomes poets and writers to visit and
write about the work on show.
Haddow and two others will select the winning piece. The winner will receive a painting by the artist Haddow (the prize is not transferable, there will not be a cash alternative)
Application/Entry forms available from

Haddow

23 – 29 June 2009,
The Spring Gallery
The Poly
Church Street
Falmouth TR11 3EG
10.30 – 5pm (closed Sunday)

Orta Poetry Day: Pendennis Castle 24th April 2009
There was little sun and no white washed walls, secluded nunnery or sparkling lake last Saturday; instead poets fought their way to the castle over Pendennis headland through howling winds and lashing rain. Never mind! The Orta, Poetry on the Lake Festival, which takes place annually on a small island in Italy, came to Falmouth and brought a bit of Italian magic with it. The founder of the Festival, Gabriel Griffin, and six national poets brought the enthusiasm, warmth and enjoyment of Orta to an assorted audience of local Falmouth Poetry group members, Cornish poetry groups and others who had travelled many miles to join us for the day.
The day was organised by Caroline Carver, the winner of the Orta Poetry Prize in 2008, and hosted by local poet Penny Shuttle, whose latest collection Redgrove’s Wife, a powerful series of poems mourning the death of her husband Peter Redgrove, was short listed for both the T.S.Eliot and the Forward Poetry Prize. The panel of poets started with a discussion on the future of poetry; later each of them and Gabriel Griffin read selections from their own work and responded to workshop poems written by members of the audience. With Penny Shuttle was James Byrne, the founder and editor of Wolf magazine and the poet Sandeep Parmar and John Hartley Williams, a great performer as well as poet who provided both entertainment with his wonderful rendition of Edwin Morgan’s ‘The Loch Ness Monster’s Song’ as well as bringing gravitas to the discussion about the extent to which poetry can reflect world disasters and traumas without the poet’s actual presence. Jo Shapcott, both provided a context for the discussions and delighted the audience with a reading of poems from her upcoming collection ‘On Mutability’. The proceedings were led by Michael Swan.
This was an audience of practitioners so the question ‘Where is Contemporary Poetry going?’ provoked an interesting discussion both amongst the panel and the listeners. The issues that might concern poetry in the future included global warming. The provoking question was asked – will pastoral poetry become elegies for lost nature rather than Wordsworthian celebrations? This local ‘festival’ was a formidable ‘round-up’ of poetic talent and they did not disappoint in either discussion, their readings or their ideas for workshop activities. Poetry is alive and well in Cornwall as the large and engaged audience proved.
Falmouth Poetry Group http://www.falmouthpoetrygroup.org.uk/blog/ meets on the second Monday of the month at Falmouth Library at 6.30 and for a workshop and some open mike occasions on the fourth Monday of the month at The Stag Hunt, Polsanooth. The Orta Poetry on the Lake Festival is an annual event and details can be found at http://www.poetryonthelake.org/ including the poetry competition.

Great Trees of Cornwall Poetry Project
Camelford Poetry Stanza celebrates the Poetry Society centenary
in partnership with The Great Trees of Cornwall Project

Thanks are due to The Tanner Trust, Cornwall AONB and the Poetry Society for generous grants that made this project possible.

Contact name: Helen Jagger Wood

Address: Garmoe Cottage, 2 Trefrew Road, Camelford, Cornwall PL32 9TP
E-mail: indianking@btconnect.com Telephone: 01840 212161
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Work produced during all workshops will be considered for inclusion in various exhibitions, publications and readings that may take place in association with the Poetry Project, including the final celebratory reading at Lanhydrock House in October, to co-incide with the Ancient Tree Forum’s AGM.
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PROGRAMME OF E V E N T S

Sunday 1 March and Saturday 25 July
Event title: The Great Trees of Cornwall – Two Poetry Workshops with Penelope Shuttle and Caroline Carver
Venue: Trebah Gardens
Time: 10.00 am - 4.00 pm
Event description: Two day-long sessions to celebrate the Great Trees of Cornwall Project and the Poetry Society’s Centenary. Each will include study of notable trees at Trebah, with writing exercises as well as consideration of tree poems by other poets (do bring along ones you’ve discovered). Ideally you will attend both days to study the contrasts and tensions between late winter trees and how they change in the full glory of summer.
Meet: The Vinery
Cost: £6 full or £5 concessions (includes entrance to the gardens)
Bring: Paper and pens/pencils
Booking: Caroline Carver: 01326 374334 or carvers@macace.net

Monday 6 April and Saturday 27 June

Event title: Poetry Writing at Dizzard Woods (AONB sponsored)
Venue: Boscastle Visitors’ Centre
Time: 10.00 am - 4.00 pm
Event description: An opportunity for adults (whether experienced or not) to write poetry with Helen Jagger in response to the cliff-growing ancient oak woodland at Dizzard. Meet up at Boscastle Visitor Centre before driving to Dizzard where we’ll walk, talk, and make notes before returning to Boscastle. Here we’ll share our reactions to the landscape and consider some tree poems, before drafting and revising poems of our own. Attend either or both days!
Bring: Paper and clipboard/something to lean on, pens or pencils. Please dress appropriately for walking across fields and along the coastal path.
Cost: £5 per head
Meet: Boscastle Visitors’ Centre, Boscastle Harbour (please park in the main car park)
Booking: Boscastle Visitors’ Centre: 01840 250010

Wednesday 15 April and Sunday 9 August
Event title: I Spy Poetry in the Trees!
Venue: Tehidy Country Park
Time: 10.30 am - 12.30 pm

Event description: An opportunity for families playing together with Helen Jagger to create poetry inspired by some of the special trees in Tehidy Country Park, including the Twisted Beech, the Monkey Puzzle with the elephant’s foot, and the Fallen Giant … At the end of the workshop, we may borrow your work to create an exhibition for the Cafe.
Bring: Pens or pencils, paper, and clip-board or something to lean on! You might like to bring something waterproof to sit on.
Cost: £2 per adult with up to 2 children free
Meet: Visitors Centre, South Drive Car Park, Tehidy Country Park
Booking: Essential as places are limited: 01872 323468

Sunday 7 June
Event title: New Words for Old Trees
Venue: Tehidy Country Park
Time: 10.30 am - 4.00 pm

An opportunity to write with Helen Jagger for teenagers and adults to write poetry (whether experienced or not) in response to various special trees in Tehidy Country Park. We’ll walk and talk, making notes on what we see, read tree poems by others, then draft and revise poems of our own. At the end of the workshop, we may borrow your work to create an exhibition for the Cafe.
Bring: Pens or pencils, paper, and clip-board or something to lean on! You might like to bring something waterproof to sit on.
Cost: £5 for adults with up to 2 children free
Meet: Visitors Centre, South Drive Car Park, Tehidy Country Park
Booking: Essential as places are limited: 01872 323468
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Saturday 17 June

Event title: Gwydh meur a Gernow - Great Trees of Cornwall Poetry Workshop with Jenny Hamlett
Venue: Morrab Library, Penzance
Time: 10 am - 3.30 pm
Event description: Come and enjoy writing about Cornwall’s special trees. We will be visiting the Elder tree in Penlee Park, looking at myths and legends surrounding trees, examining poems by other writers and working towards the creation of our own Great Tree poem.
Cost: £5 for the workshop with free entrance to the associated reading.
Booking For more details and to book a place please call Jenny Hamlett 01736 796722
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Saturday 20 June

Event title: Great Trees Poetry Reading
Venue: Morrab Library, Penzance
Date: Saturday 20 June
Time: 10.30 am - 12.30 pm
Event description: Celebrate your poems written during the Saturday 17 June workshop in a reading at the Morrab Library. The reading is open to anyone who would like to read a poem about trees.
Cost: FREE
Booking: For more details and to book a place please call Jenny Hamlett 01736 796722
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Saturday 5 September

Event title: Reading at Cornwall Watercolour Society exhibition
Venue: The Camelford Gallery
Time: t.b.c.
Event description: Join guests at the Private View of this exhibition, this year on the theme of the Great Trees of Cornwall, and stay for the reading of poetry on trees given by poets involved in the Poetry Society’s centenary celebrations. Poems will include ones written during the Great Trees of Cornwall Poetry Project’s programme to celebrate the Poetry Society’s centenary.
Booking: John Blight at The Camelford Gallery:
01840 213980

In addition to the following adult workshops being held around the County, school workshops have been or are being held at:

Sithney and Stithians Primary Schools led by Moira Andrew
Camelford Primary School led by Helen Wood
Flushing Primary School led by Caroline Carver

The writing consultancy Buzzwords (Margaret Livingston and Gemma Dyson) are running children’s poetry events at Trelissick and Trewithen - for details contact Buzzwords: info@buzzwords.org.uk
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FPG Fourth Monday series at The Stag Hunt Pub Ponsanooth

Hello everyone
In response to your feedback the group will run as follows.
Every third meeting will have the mixed workshop/open mic function.
There is demand for workshop time on Mon 27th April so the schedule has been amended.
The open mic sessions will be advertised to FPG/Piccolona/other poetry groups but not to the general public.
The mixed evenings will run as on the schedule below to see how it works out. And the timings can be altered with ongoing experience.
There will be no session in August.

Schedule for your diary:

27th April – Workshop 6.30 – 8.00 pm / Open Mic 8.00-9.30pm

25th May - Workshop 6.30-8.30 pm

22nd June - Workshop 6.30-8.30pm

27th July - Workshop 6.30 –8.00pm / Open Mic 8.00 – 9.30pm

28th September – Workshop 6.30-8.30pm

26th October - Workshop 6.30-8.30pm

23rd November Workshop 6.30-8.00 pm - Open Mic 8.00-9.30pm

Since there is workshop time next Monday can you send me the work you would like

to have feedback on. I’ll circulate it to the rest of the group. If you can by Friday evening

to allow people to give it the consideration it deserves.

Robbie Breadon info@grovecentre.co.uk

14 to 15 August 2009

A proposed Peter Redgrove Festival, with many visiting poets, is still in the planning stages. There will be workshops and readings as well as a discussion of the work of this most notable poet. Further details to be announced. Check back soon!