Ledbury Poetry Festival

13/11/2024

Congratulations to Samantha Harvey on winning The Booker Prizes

The British author’s novel about astronauts on the International Space Station was chosen unanimously as the winner, says judging chair Edmund de Waal

12/11/2024

Over two autumn weekends, Ledbury Poetry ran a Voice Workshop with actor, director and vocal teacher, Françoise Walot. Five up-and-coming voices in contemporary poetry took part: Karen Downs-Barton, Zakia Carpenter-Hall, L. Kiew, Olugbemi Moronfolu and Shaun Hill.

Françoise is a Designated Linklater Teacher, using the Linklater method to explore the links between voice and text, with breath and the body at the core of her work. The five poets took part in exercises involving engaging with space, breath work, and using the body to energise expressive speaking.

‘Although I feel my confidence has grown, perhaps it was the space to experiment that has also been beneficial. Françoise taught us so many techniques to combat the constriction that comes with nerves and how to project the voice. I know I’ll be using these for so long!’ Karen Downs-Barton

‘I really enjoyed when we practised our poetry outside in the Walled Garden. Ledbury residents were not at all phased by us sharing our poems with the birds and trees.’ L. Kiew

‘I felt confident in my authentic voice and learnt to play around with it. I have performed better here than ever before. Françoise honestly works magic and I feel more prepared as a poet than ever before.’ Olugbemi Moronfolu

The Voice Coaching Workshops were kindly funded by The Foyle Foundation

Françoise Walot

31/10/2024

Fabulous Fun in today at our Autumn Adventures workshops!!!

Happy Half-Term! Happy Halloween! Happy Diwali!

Thanks to Herefordshire Council Toni Cook Work Dandy Lions

Arts Council England

29/10/2024

Roll up roll up! There are still a few places left to join the Ledbury Poetry Autumn Adventures Day this Thursday 31st October. Come along and get creative with artist Jeanette McCulloch and Sarah from Dandy Lions at workshops running from 10am - 12 noon and from 1pm - 3pm. ALL ARE FREE but booking is essential to reserve your place! https://ledburypoetry.org.uk/home/whats-on/

Voice Of Ledbury What's On Ledbury Area Ledbury Traders The Real Voice Of Ledbury Ledbury Town Council Arts Council England Herefordshire Council Toni Cook Work Jeanette McCulloch Dandy Lions

28/10/2024

We can't wait to welcome you next Saturday Writing West Midlands

Join us for a free morning of networking for emerging and established writers from across the West Midlands and beyond.

Venue: Ledbury Poetry House, Ledbury, Herefordshire, HR8 2AA
Date/time: Saturday 2nd November, 11am -12.30pm
Book tickets: https://buff.ly/4eVkPXj

24/10/2024

This year's Black History Month UK celebrates 'reclaiming narratives' and so we're sharing here David Olusoga's new book - Black History for Every Day of the Year written with his siblings, Yinka and Kemi.

Packed with quotes, poems, illustrations and pictures, Black History for Every Day of the Year gives you new insights about well known figures and inspirational unsung heroes. With stories of hope, connection and creativity, alongside tales of racism, resistance and celebration - from the nineteenth century anti-slavery movement, to World Wars I and II, to the Harlem Renaissance, Stormzy, Simone Biles and beyond.

Arts Council England Writing West Midlands

22/10/2024

to see the Hereford College of Arts exhibition in . The selected works exhibited are a response to National Poetry Day supported by Toni Cook from Ledbury Poetry Festival.

Open Tues - Thurs 10-5pm

Toni Cook Work National Poetry Day h.Art Herefordshire Art Week Visit Herefordshire Herefordshire Council The Courtyard Hereford Malvern Theatres Arts Council England Herefordshire What's On What's On Ledbury Area Hereford Times BBC Hereford & Worcester Hay Castle Trust

21/10/2024

Join us for a free morning of networking for emerging and established writers from across the West Midlands and beyond.

Hosted by Ledbury Poetry, this informal event will include guest writer Mark Edwards talking about his work as a successful thriller writer.

Jonathan Davidson from Writing West Midlands will talk about support offered to writers and we’ll hear from Sabeen Chaudhry about the work of Ledbury Poetry.

Venue: Ledbury Poetry House, Barrett Browning Institute, Ledbury, Herefordshire, HR8 2AA

Date and Time: Saturday 2nd November 11am-12.30pm

Book your free place now: https://writingwestmidlands.org/events/in-person-regional-writer-meet-up-ledbury/

Writing West Midlands Arts Council England

14/10/2024

Congratulations to all the Forward Prizes for Poetry winners! https://forwardartsfoundation.org/forward-prizes-for-poetry/

10/10/2024

Congratulations on the to Han Kang https://www.theguardian.com/books/2024/oct/10/south-korean-author-han-kang-wins-the-2024-nobel-prize-in-literature

Nobel Prize

Han, whose works include The Vegetarian, was praised for her ‘intense poetic prose that confronts historical traumas and exposes the fragility of human life’

09/10/2024

Hereford College of Arts National Poetry Day Counting Themed Exhibition is coming up at Ledbury Poetry House, Herefordshire, HR8 2AA from Tue 22nd October 2024

As part of Ledbury Poetry's engagement work, Hereford College of Arts Foundation students have responded to a creative session making art pieces inspired by this year's National Poetry Day's theme of Counting, as well as responding to the concept of a "derive."

Work has been selected from the 70+ students' submissions to be included in an exhibition here. Opening times Tues-Sat 10am-5pm (some dates may be subject to change) to visit this exhibition for FREE.

Hereford Arts National Poetry Day Toni Cook Work h.Art Herefordshire Art Week Arts Council England Visit Herefordshire Herefordshire Libraries Herefordshire Council Meadow Arts The Poetry Society The Courtyard Hereford Arts Council England What's On Ledbury Area The Real Voice Of Ledbury Voice Of Ledbury Ledbury Community Hub Ledbury Town Council Ledbury Traders Ledbury Reporter BBC Hereford & Worcester Hereford Times

08/10/2024

Hooray for coming up this weekend!!!!

Ledbury Books and Maps Three counties bookshop Arts Council England Books Are My Bag

We’re excited to invite you to celebrate this weekend.

Find your local bookshop: https://booksaremybag.com/bookshopsearch

Spread the message and on Saturday 12 October. 🧡

🎨: Sophy Henn

07/10/2024

Fascinating investigation by the wonderful National Literacy Trust into children and poetry published to coincide with National Poetry Day https://literacytrust.org.uk/research-services/research-reports/children-young-people-and-poetry-in-2024/

Arts Council England Herefordshire Council Herefordshire Libraries

A report exploring engagement with poetry in all its forms, demonstrating the important role poetry can play in the lives of our children and young people.

03/10/2024

HAPPY NATIONAL POETRY DAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This year's theme is 'Counting' and so we're sharing here Elizabeth Barret Browning's beautiful sonnet 'How do I love thee? Let me count the ways' for your delight. Elizabeth Barrett Browning grew up here in Ledbury and we are based in The Barrett Browning Institute built in her honour.

If you want to find out more about EBB's sonnets hop over to Ledbury Poetry Player and listen to Don Paterson, Fiona Benson and Dinah Roe talk about her work with Claire Armitstead https://ledburypoetry.org.uk/events/don-paterson-talks-to-claire-armistead-dead-poets-society-6-elizabeth-barrett-browning/

National Poetry Day Forward Prizes for Poetry British Library The Poetry Society Poetry London Poetry Translation Centre Poetry Pharmacy Arts Council England Visit Herefordshire Herefordshire Libraries Herefordshire Council Three Choirs Festival Malvern Theatres The Market Theatre The Courtyard Hereford

02/10/2024

JOIN US THIS HALF-TERM for a Ledbury Poetry AUTUMN ADVENTURES DAY! Come along on Thursday 31st October for FREE creative workshops - please book a ticket online to ensure your place!

10am - 12 noon and 1pm - 3pm

With thanks to Herefordshire Council

Dandy Lions Eat Sleep Live Herefordshire Herefordshire Libraries What's On Ledbury Area Arts Council England Visit Herefordshire Voice Of Ledbury Ledbury Traders Your Herefordshire Ledbury Town Council Hereford Times BBC Hereford & Worcester Toni Cook Work

24/09/2024

'The 'poetry town' near Birmingham with a chocolate tea room and shops down cobbled lanes full of secrets' https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/travel/poetry-town-near-birmingham-chocolate-29922640

Come and explore at any time of year - there will be a warm welcome for all! Thanks Birmingham Live

Birmingham Poetry Festival Birmingham Literature Festival Birmingham Live Visit Herefordshire

12/09/2024

Come and enjoy our Exhibition as part of h.Art Herefordshire Art Week at Poets in the Landscape by Bridget Macdonald is open every day during this week and runs until 27th September. Visit Herefordshire

Well its HERE…. has officially started, 9 nine days of superb creativity and visual wonder. A big thanks to our North Herefordshire MP Ellie Chowns for the plug on Any Questions last Thursday evening.

Wishing all the best to the artists and venues taking part this year and of course, a huge welcome to all the visitors exploring the nooks and crannies of Herefordshire to and soak up the artistry.

and

Visit Herefordshire
Eat Sleep Live Herefordshire
Hereford Times
Hereford Tourist Information Centre
Your Herefordshire
VisitEngland

12/09/2024

Come and explore Ledbury Poetry House, the home of Ledbury Poetry, which organises the annual Ledbury Poetry Festival and year-round events and activities. The Poetry House is based in the (Elizabeth) Barrett Browning Institute, which was named after the nineteenth century poet who lived nearby. It has a long history as a reading room, library and meeting space. The Institute had been partially disused until 2021 when Ledbury Poetry moved in to give the charity a base, and live out the 1897 founding vision for the building to support ‘the advancement of knowledge, literature, science and art’.

For Heritage Open Days we are offering the opportunity to explore the building and its past, and be part of reimagining what it can be for Ledbury in the future. We will be open each day from 11:00-5:00 (11:00-3:00 on Sundays), and short tours of the building will enable you to see areas usually behind the scenes. Please bring any photos or memories you have of the Institute to share.

The Poetry House is also hosting an exhibition ‘Poets in the Landscape’ by artist Bridget Macdonald as part of h.Art. This is a varied exhibition of her drawings and paintings which looks at the network of connections between individual poets and their relationship with the landscape of their times.

Tours Friday 13th, Saturday 14th 2:00-3:00. Tours are free but booking is essential.

Heritage Open Days h.Art Herefordshire Art Week Arts Council England Visit Herefordshire Voice Of Ledbury Ledbury Traders The Real Voice Of Ledbury Ledbury Town Council Eat Sleep Live Herefordshire Herefordshire What's On Herefordshire Council Herefordshire Libraries Ledbury Reporter