Free Renga Poetry Workshop, Friday 1pm - 3pm Bath Central Library

Alan Summers

Free Renga Workshop
Bath Central Library
Friday 6th November
1pm - 3pm

Bath Central Library
1st Floor Level
(Library is behind/to the side of Caffé Piazza)
The Podium Shopping Centre (www.thepodiumbath.co.uk/shopping)
Bath BA1 5AN

Access:
http://www.bathnes.gov.uk/BathNES/leisureandculture/Libraries/specialneeds/default.htm

Alan Summers, Embassy of Japan's roving Japan-UK 150 haiku & renga poet-in-resident, and in Partnership with Bath Libraries, is giving a free renga workshop and session as part of The 1000 Verse Renga.

Please join Alan Summers and June Wentland, B&ANES Reader Development Officer for an action-packed and entertaining renga session.

Everyone is free to come and go, suggest a verse, or just make a comment.

This will be the penultimate event for the nearing conclusion of the highly successful monthlong project based in Bath Central Library and other B&ANES libraries (including Keynsham Library).

Alan will also be in the library earlier in the day being filmed with writers and poets June Wentland; Sara-Jane Webster; Tracey Kelly; and Karen Hoy in conjunction with Like Starlings.

Although we are near the 1000 Verse target we still welcome even more renga verses (haiku like verses) and there are a manner of ways to do this.



WAYS TO ADD A RENGA VERSE TO THE 1000 VERSE RENGA!

You can visit the 1000 Verse Renga display (situated Bath Central Library foyer/Quick Select area) and add a verse by doing it live on a renga sheet! But don't forget to add your name and town/district.

Or submit a Renga verse by email: 1000verses@withwords.org.uk

or

Txt a Renga Verse: 07797 806 545
Type RENGA followed by the verse and your name (first or full) and town.

1000 VERSE RENGA INFO WEBLINKS:

Web link: BBC Poetry Seascon 1000 verse renga article

Web link: Bath Chronicle newspaper article



The final version of the 1000 Verse Renga will be a free eBook with comments and facts, by Christmas, as well as printed copies to read when visiting Bath Central Library.

Alan, WITH WORDS
http://www.withwords.org.uk

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The 1000 Verse Renga

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The Renga Project
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has now reached over 1000 verses
and is now extended right up to Christmas.

Roger McGough: "This is a lovely idea."


An open invitation to poets and the public
This is an open invitation to all the residents of Bath, and to all the poets and writers in Bath to collobrate on this unique project.

We urge you to help us create a super poem that is jointly written by the public and local, national and international poets.

We believe this super renga will stand as an extraordinary social document, as well as a riveting poem, all at the same time.

Competition
A competition is also being planned for the best verses in various categories: poets local and international; the general public; and from children.

This is a unique project drawing experienced writers and international haiku and renga poets and their contributions together with from the general public.

As the Japanese Embassy roving "Japan-UK 150" haiku & renga poet-in-residence currently based at Bath Central Library (situated upstairs in The Podium Shopping Centre) and in partnership with Bath Libraries from June to December 2009 (and New Year 2010), I set a challenge starting on National Poetry Day in October for the residents of Bath and North East Somerset to create the world's longest poem using the renga form of poety (see below).



This project becomes more than a poem, it allows people to reveal aspects of their life, their worries, their fears, it creates a unique time capsule for the residents of this area:

and with verse contributions from all over the world from people who do care about people beyond their geographical boundaries:

Bath Chronicle: Councillor Terry Gazzard, Bath and North East Somerset Council's cabinet member for tourism, leisure and culture said: "B&NES' libraries are a place where words can come alive and everyone has the opportunity to learn and develop new skills. Schemes like this poetry project bring the whole community together and reinforce Bath's reputation as a global centre for the arts."

Bath Chronicle quote me:

"Libraries are a place of words, and as someone who promotes the love of words, what better place could I choose to launch this incredible type of poem, where the public write the poem – not the poet."

I also want everyone to join in with this totally inclusive group poem!

Bath Central Library: http://www.bathnes.gov.uk/services/libraries-and-archives