PRESS RELEASE
Young People’s
Laureate for London announces new Outer London tour and launches specially
commissioned poem for National Poetry Day
Spread the Word’s Young People’s Laureate for London Caleb
Femi will launch a specially commissioned poem and announce his 2017 tour of
Outer London Boroughs on #NationalPoetryDay [Thursday 28 September].
The poem - The Story We All Know - was inspired and
influenced by conversations held with 13 to 25 year olds in libraries in the
Outer London Boroughs of Bexley, Croydon, Newham, Merton and Barking and
Dagenham. Filmed in black and white, the moving one minute 30 second poem
highlights the challenges facing young people such as isolation, crime,
depression and disengagement.
Caleb Femi, Spread
the Word Young People’s Laureate for London, said: “The poem - #TheStoryWeAllKnow - was inspired by the diverse young people I met in libraries, and
maps out some of the issues they felt were affecting them. It calls for a
collaborative effort to be made by institutions, like local libraries, to work
with young people to help them change the narrative which misrepresents them.”
In response, Spread the Word, Caleb Femi and established
poets will tour with The Poetry Takeaway throughout October in the five
boroughs to broaden the reach of the programme to engage up to 1000 young
people. The mobile ‘takeaway van’ will park in different locations, including
schools, youth clubs, town squares and local libraries. Young people will be
encouraged to participate in poetry activities and fresh new writing.
They will also have the opportunity to take part in
co-creation sessions at participating libraries as well as poetry workshops
with the Young People’s Laureate for London and poets Raymond Antrobus, Laurie
Bolger, Dan Simpson, Laila Sumpton and Paula Varjak. Workshops on beatboxing
with UK Champion Grace Savage and tips on how to set up their own poetry events
or collectives with Danny Tsu and Shaniqua Benjamin are also planned. Open mic
spots will be hosted by each library, giving young people the chance to perform
their poems alongside Caleb Femi.
Calem added:
“I am really looking forward to seeing the creativity and talent that shines
forth from the young people during the tour. I hope that through our workshops,
events and partnership with local libraries, we are able to encourage young
people to see poetry as a viable way of expressing themselves and engaging with
the social and even political conversations of our day.”
The Young People’s Laureate for London Tour will run from
24th to 28th October 2017.
The role aims to:
- Raise the visibility of poetry in the capital nationally and internationally;
- Engage and inspire London’s young people with poetry (aged 13-25) through the issues that affect them;
- Support the development of London’s talented young poets (18-25 year olds) in a tangible way.
The Young People’s Laureate for London Tour 2017-2018 is a
partnership project between Spread the Word and the Association of London Chief
Librarians. A two year programme, it will take place in 10 Outer London library
services with a focus on areas of low engagement in the arts by young people.
Participating libraries are: Barking and Dagenham, Bexley, Croydon, Merton and
Newham in 2017, and Brent, Bromley, Hounslow, Redbridge and Sutton in 2018.
The Young People’s Laureate Tour is supported through
funding from Arts Council England.
Young People’s Laureate for London Tour 2017 dates:
Tuesday 24 Oct - Bexley Central Library
Wednesday 25
Oct - Beckton Globe Library
Thursday 26 Oct - Barking Learning Centre
Friday 27 Oct - Croydon Central Library
Saturday 28 Oct - Mitcham Library
Official hashtag: #changethestory
Follow Caleb Femi on Twitter: @CalebFemi5
Follow Caleb Femi on Twitter: @CalebFemi5
Follow Spread the Word on Twitter: @STWevents
Follow WordsOfColour on Twitter: @WordsOfColour
Follow Society of Chief Librarians on Twitter: @UKSCL
No comments:
Post a Comment