NATIONAL POETRY WEEK 2008

National Poetry Week 2008 will be celebrated all around Australia from 29th August to 7th September.

If you would like to organise any events or include regular events in WA for this year's National Poetry Week, please contact the WA Co-ordinator, Maureen Sexton by email at: maureensexton@bigpond.com or sajwriter06@yahoo.com.au or by phone: 0435 024 616.

For more details about National Poetry Week, contact Jayne Fenton Keane: jfk@nationalpoetryweek.com or go to www.nationalpoetryweek.com

This year’s themes are: Screen; Shop; Suspect; Space; I, eye; Friend; Cast; Save; to be interpreted any way you like.

It is suggested that you could include libraries and schools in your events.

From National Co-ordinator Jayne Fenton Keane:

National Poetry Week is in its 7th year. Thank you to everyone who has contributed to its growth and diversity. Join NPW 2008 to help create poetry events that will excite, stimulate or stun the public. National Poetry Week seeks to foster imaginative partnerships with poets, audiences, communities, artists, students, bookstores and arts organisations. Most events are organised on a voluntary basis with the goodwill of venue managers, volunteer coordinators, poets, organisations and individuals who share an interest in poetry. If you are passionate about poetry and the need to bring it alive in the streets and consciousness of the broader public you are invited to join the team of organisers for this year. Lodge your interest now to set the wild language of poetry free in the world.

2008 Western Australia National Poetry Week Events (including WA Spring Poetry Festival), brought to you with the support of WA Poets Inc.

2008 Reviews

2007 Western Australia National Poetry Week Events

1. Under the theme: RIPPLE -

Title: POETRY DISPLAY -
Katharine Susannah Prichard Writers Centre Celebrates National Poetry Week 2007
Date: 31st August to 9th September
Venue: Katharine Susannah Prichard Writers Centre,
11 Old York Rd, Greenmount
Enquiries: Julie Cook, kspfevents@iinet.net.au, 9294 1872 or Maureen Sexton, sajwriter06@yahoo.com.au, 0435 024 616
Details: Poems will be displayed at KSP from 31st August to 9th September.

Title: Walking on Water celebrates National Poetry Week 2007
Date: Monday 3rd September
Time: We’re opening the doors at 7 pm and will start at 7.30 pm sharp.
Venue: The Laneway, off Murray St, Perth
Poets: Jenny de Garis, Hal Colebatch, Kay Cairns, Nandi Chinna, Jen de Ness, Janet Jackson, Liana Joy Christensen, Anne Morgan, Glen Phillips, Andrew Taylor, Rose van Son. We also have some great poets doing 5 minute spots during the evening. These are: Frances Brewer, Angela Dyson, Julienne Miller, Joyce Parkes (not attending - will be read for her), Ray Penny, Anna Weldon.
Enquiries: Jane Cornes, 0414 862 306, jcornes@iinet.net.au
Cost: $5 Waged, $3 Unwaged
Details: Tea and coffee provided, but please bring your own mug.

Title: OOTA Poetry Readings for NPW
Date: Friday 7th September
Time: 12.30 pm
Venue: Fremantle Arts Centre courtyard, 1 Finnerty Street, Fremantle
Poets: Open
Enquiries: Jo Clarke, 9339 0847. josephine.oota@gmail.com
Cost: Free

Title: KSP READINGS AND OPEN DAY KSP Celebrates NPW 2007
Date: Sunday 9th September 2007
Time: 10.30 am to 3 pm
Venue: Katharine Susannah Prichard Writers Centre, 11 Old York Rd, Greenmount
Poets: Glen Phillips, Mardi May, Coral Carter, Janet Jackson, Paula Jones and others in Open Readings
Enquiries: Julie Cook, kspfevents@iinet.net.au, 9294 1872 or Maureen Sexton, sajwriter06@yahoo.com.au, 0435 024 616
Cost: Free
Details: Timetable, 10.30 am to 11.30 am Tour of the Writers Centre and talk on KSP history, 11.30 am to 1 pm Poetry books, chap books and CDs for sale, mingle with the poets and check out the poetry display (includes lunch from 12 pm to 1 pm), 1 pm to 3 pm Introduction by Glen Phillips. Open poetry readings. Please write your name on the readers list as soon as you arrive. If you would like to sell your chapbook, poetry book, CD, etc on the day please contact Maureen on 0435 024 616.

2. Under the theme: INVENT -

Title: POETRY DISPLAY –
Fellowship of Australian Writers (WA) Celebrates National Poetry Week 2007
Date: 2nd to 9th September
Venue: Tom Collins House in the Allen Park Heritage Precinct, near the corner of Wood & Kirkwood Streets, in Swanbourne. Please park your car under the pine trees by the edge of the Allen Park oval.
Enquiries: Catherine on 9384 4771 (Monday & Thursday) or email fawwa@iinet.net.au.
Details: Poems by WA poets will be displayed at TCH from 2nd to 9th September.

Title: OPEN DAY AT MATTIE FURPHY HOUSE AND POETRY READINGS AT FAWWA FOR NPW 2007
Date: Sunday 2nd September 2007
Time: Open House: 2 pm to 4 pm; Readings in Tom Collins House 4 pm to 6 pm.
Venue: Allen Park Heritage Precinct, near the corner of Wood & Kirkwood Streets, in Swanbourne. Please park your car under the pine trees by the edge of the Allen Park oval.
Poets: Sarah French, Anne-Marie Weldon, Glen Phillips, Sally Gaunt, Maureen Sexton, Jenny de Garis, Nandi Chinna, Elizabeth Lewis, Pat Johnson and other poets.
Enquiries: Catherine on 9384 4771 (Monday & Thursday), email FAWWA fawwa@iinet.net.au or admin@fawwa.org.au.
Details: Visit Mattie Furphy House and see the potential which attracted major funding from Lotterywest to complete restoration. Explore the possibilities of a Foundation for Creative Imagination, which will function in MFH. Then spend a relaxed time in TCH, listening to poets read their poems.

Title: Voicebox celebrates National Poetry Week 2007
Date: Thursday 6th September
Time: 7.30 pm
Venue: La Tropicana Café, 177 High St, Fremantle
Poets: Kevin Gillam plus open mic
Enquiries: Nandi, chinnanandi@hotmail.com 9331 1703
Cost: $5.00 or $3.00 concession

Title: Poet's Corner celebrates National Poetry Week 2007
Date: Saturday 8th September
Time: 2 pm to 4.30 pm
Venue: Pages Cafe, ground floor of the Alexander Building, State Library, Cultural Centre Perth (just over the bridge from the railway station)
Poets: Our special guest host is Glen Phillips, with invited readers Shane McCauley, Andrew Lansdown, Mardi May, Andrew Taylor and Frances Macaulay Forde
Enquiries: Frances Macaulay Forde poetscornerwa@yahoo.com.au.
Cost: Purchase a cup of coffee in the Cafe.
Details: Invited poets and Open Mic.

2007 Reviews

Review of Walking on Water, WA, National Poetry Week
By Julienne Miller
Performance poetry is a growing phenomenon in Perth . Yes, that means reading out loud to a group of people. No, that does not mean it is out of your reach. Many of us have never done this thing before. Walking on Water (WOW) is one such avenue for participating in and listening to poems being recited by their authors. WOW is on the first Monday of each Month at 7.30pm . Since it was National Poetry Week, the theme on Monday 3rd September was chosen from one of the NPW themes: Ripple. There were peels of laughter, deep-thought sighs, musing silences, but never... never... a snore to be heard. The 40 odd people nibbled at the feast of poetry- and delivery-styles. We were transported from quiet places of pondering like a cross-country skier ambling down a gentle mountain-side, to out-of-breath, edge-of-your-seat pieces akin to a skilled skier devouring a high speed slope. Whatever that case, the audience was engaged, and the longer-than-usual two hours of readings did not register as being anywhere near that long.
WOW is held in a wonderfully appropriate building for word- and verbal- artists. It is in an unpretentious building, found down an unpretentious laneway, located surprisingly close to the bright lights of the heart of our city. It's a supportive and encouraging environment, and I suggest anyone who has toyed with the idea of reading their poetry aloud to give it a try. Some readers prefer to stand. While others, such as I, could hardly resist the plush leather chair provided especially for the reader of the moment. It's a must see, must try, monthly opportunity. You won't know what you're missing until you go and check it out. The next meeting is Monday 1st October at 7.15pm for a 7.30pm start. Tea, coffee and bickies are provided. BYO mug. ($5 waged, $3 conc.) Contact Jane jcornes@iinet.net.au.