Literature Development, Derbyshire County Council

Autumn Celebration of Poetry

There are some great poetry events and workshops taking place in Derbyshire Libraries this autumn, including a return visit to Derbyshire by acclaimed poet Dorothea Smartt. 

She’ll be appearing at Wirksworth Library on Tuesday 5th October, 7.30pm .  We received fantastic feedback from people who saw Dorothea during the Derbyshire Literature Festival so if you missed her, here’s another chance to hear her read from her deeply inspiring collection Ship Shape. Tickets are £3, or £2 concessions, and can be booked at Wirksworth Library on 01629 823 173.

To celebrate National Poetry Day on Thursday 7th October, Derbyshire Poet Laureate Ann Atkinson will be performing a sequence of poems inspired by a recent cultural exchange visit to Mamelodi in South Africa , at Eckington Library, 7.30pm . The event is free and places can be booked at Eckington Library on 01246 433 943.

We’re also delighted to welcome Deirdre O’Byrne to Derbyshire, she’ll be giving a reading,  'Blowing leaves about: Images of Autumn in Irish Poetry' , at Ilkeston Library on Tuesday 12th October, 7.30pm . If you like poetry, Ireland or enjoy being read to, why not join us for this  informal poetry night.  Deirdre will read and talk about a selection of autumnal poems by various Irish writers.  Deirdre teaches literature at Loughborough University , and is chair of Nottingham Irish Studies Group. Tickets are £3, or £2 concessions, and can be booked at Ilkeston Library on:   0115 930 1104

Ann Atkinson has a busy autumn as she is also taking part in two events during Wirksworth Festival .  She’ll be reading a selection of poems at the opening celebration for the new Derbyshire Eco Centre on Saturday 18th September.  She’ll be part of the Mamelodi-Bright in the Corner Where You Are workshop performance which is at The Town Hall, Wirksworth on Friday 24th September, 8pm .

You can join Ann Atkinson for a relaxing poetry workshop weaving words inspired by the heritage of the Derwent Valley Mills.   Ann is running two workshops on: Saturday 23rd October, 2-4pm at Darley Barn Outdoor Centre, Poplar Row, Darley Abbey, Derby ; and on Sunday 24th October, 2-4pm at the Baptist Chapel, Chevin Road , Milford . 
Tickets are £4/£3 concessions.   To book tickets for either workshop contact Ali Betteridge on 01773 831359 or e-mail alison.betteridge@derbyshire.gov.uk

These events are part of the Derwent Valley Mills World Heritage Site Discovery Days Festival which runs from 23 to 31 October 2010 .  To find out about other events Derbyshire Libraries are running during the festival visit: http://www.derbyshire.gov.uk/discoverydays

Ann will also be appearing at Chandlers ’ Bards poetry event on Thursday 28th October, 12noon-2pm.  It’s an open mic poetry event, admission is free so you can come along and take part or just drop in to listen. Chandlers ’ Bar is on St Mary’s Gate, Chesterfield .  The event is part of Chesterfield Arts and Market Festival.  Chesterfield Library are also hosting events during the Festival visit Derbyshire Libraries Facebook page for more details: 

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If you would like to find out more about literature events and opportunities for writers in Derbyshire and the region, sign up for our free monthly
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Ali Betteridge on 01773 831 359 or e-mail: alison.betteridge@derbyshire.gov.uk