Throughout this year
to commemorate the fallen of the 1914-18 war the Urban Arts Centre, DJ School,
Verbal Arts and Quhwah Publications will be collaborating on a ground breaking
project. The local organisations have come together with funds from the
Heritage Lottery and local businesses to bring their unique and specific
expertise to this very import project.
Remembrance
Poets is the brain child of Gary Oliver internationally renowned local poet who
found fame with his Books Woodun Indians, Dear Love Powa and Contemporary
Common Criminal. Gary has worked closely with Jonathan Dale of the Western
Front Society and artists attending the Urban Arts Centre in Castlefield
Street, Etruria to develop this nationally import project.
The
commemoration will seek to commission twelve poems from local poets for
publication in a commemorative audio booklet of written and audio poems
inspired by the ideas of conflict and resolution. The project is open to any
poets residing in Staffordshire published or non-published. However priory will
be given to difficult to reach individuals who have an interest in poetry. ‘The idea, ’ Gary told Urban News, ‘is
that through researching the War to
develop the poetry compositions we can learn about local stories from world
histories and develop a wider deeper sense of enlightenment. How did the Great
War influence Staffordshire and its people? Do people today know how diverse
culturally, in term of people the Great War was and do they know how much it
changed the world? We seek to make change locally that’s reflected nationally
and vice versa. A Verbal Arts spokesman said ‘There are many stories with in
the 1914-18 War that have
resonance locally and chart the influence of the
conflict on the local area. We seek to bring them to the fore with this
project. Jonathan Dale from the Western Front Society Midlands division said
‘it is very important that we keep the knowledge of this conflict and the
memories of the fallen alive so that future generations can learn from the
mistakes of the past.
To be
considered for one of the twelve commissions send an example of work with
contact details attached to the Urban Arts Centre and the staff at the Centre
will contact you if you are successful.
Those
successful in winning the commission will be mentored by professional poets and
researchers with research skills, performance skills and to develop their poetic
writing skills.
Also, there
will be a number of public events starting with a jump off event on the 27th
February, where Jonathan Dale from the Western Front Society will give a talk
on the Great War and the Midlands. The event will show a film about life in the
trenches with actual footage of trench life and Gary Oliver will read Wilfred
Owen the celebrated war poet’s work.
Afterwards there will be a discussion about conflict and resolution
1914-2014.
The twelve
successful poets will also get a free day trip out to the Imperial War Museum
and to The National Arboretum. Upon completion of the commission the successful
poets will be celebrated in a presentation ceremony and awarded a commemorative
copy of the audio book.
If you are
interested in writing poetry and wanting to put yourself forward for the
commission or if you know someone who would be interested send a sample of work
to:
Or contact 01782 205675
If you are
interested in attending any of the events please reserve a place on the
contacts above as soon as possible as there are limited places available.
