The theme of the season is Where are we now? My take on this is given COVID-19, the immense environmental and social challenges we face both locally and globally, who are we now in relation to our connection with our land and people? How can we describe, challenge or create new connections with our land and people in the 2020s? Poets are inherently courageous in searching for truth and meaning. As usual, events are afternoon/evening time in Australia & mornings in UK.

Find out more about the wider UK/Australia Season of Culture here

First offerings

• A writing workshop looking directly at the theme, courageous connections with land and people – writing the Anthropocene. With the climate emergency upon us, we need new ways of expressing and my hunch is that we have only just skimmed the surface of what poetry can do so far. This is the first workshop in a series to continue into 2022.

• A taster poetry feedback session for those who want to hone their poems – in-depth feedback with Cath Drake in a small group of 6 poets only. Make your good poems really good!

• Exclusive masterclass, The Art of Sound with one of Australia’s most well-known poets, Judith Beveridge. She’ll lead a unique approach to the sonic properties of vowels and consonants and how to use them effectively to enhance the meaning of a poem and add dramatic and emotional depth.

• Second masterclass, The Surreal Truth with 2020 Forward Prize Winner Caroline Bird, one of the hottest poets in the UK right now. Spend time with Caroline’s incredible creative imagination and take your writing to unexpected places.

Coming up

• More masterclasses to hone your craft, including Mona Arshi on the modern Ghazal.

• Two showcase readings of Australian & UK poets: 10th October will be headlined by one of Australia’s most prestigious poets, Sarah Holland-Batt, and 23rd October (afternoon/evening Australia, morning UK).

•Poetry & Mindfulness sessions from November.

Further details about all these events and to book here