‘The Festival of Words’, brought to you by Nailsworth Town Council
5th-10th July, Three Storeys, Old Bristol Rd, Nailsworth, GL6 0JE
The Festival of Words is a five day event brought to you by Nailsworth Town Council, that aims to encourage appreciation and enjoyment of words in all their contexts and forms.
With a number of events and competitions planned, we will keep this page updated as more information becomes available.
Part of the festival involves a poetry competition including the chance to become the new Nailsworth Poet Laureate. The new Poet Laureate will have the opportunity to write poems for the town over the next year.
To enter you need to write a poem themed on Nailsworth or the surrounding area. Please submit your entries by Monday 6th June either online to pipheywood@icloud.com or drop them into the Town Information Centre in the library.
The council will also be delighted to receive poems or paintings and drawings from children, between ages 7 and 12 and any theme is welcome, with a chance to win a book token.
The Festival will include…
An exhibition of work of the Concrete Poets.
5th July to 10th July, 10am to 3pm, The Setting
This remarkable exhibition celebrates the work of artists who had a strong connection to Nailsworth. Including the work of John and Astrid Furnival, Thomas A Clark and Laurie Clark, Kenelm Cox and Dom Sylvester Houedard (ash).
Please click here for a short film about the exhibition made by Pip Heywood
Installation by artist Liz Collini - Tuesday 5th July
Liz will be creating a new wall drawing for Three Storeys as a response to the landscape around Nailsworth, constructing large-scale words using a complex system of measurements and geometry. Liz will be talking about her work between 3pm and 4pm on the day.
Walk from Three Storeys to King George Vth Playing Field - Wednesday 6th July 10am - 12pm
A free guided walk of a mile or so led by artists Richard Keating and Rachel MacDonnell.
On this short, level walk from Three Storeys to King George Vth Playing Fields, you will be asked to tell us how you feel about trees and to consider a tree planting plan for KGV. The words collected will be incorporated into future art works, examples of which will be on exhibition at Three Storeys as a part of The Festival of Words.
To book a place please email keatree@icloud.com or 'phone 07969533813. Numbers are limited.
There will be opportunity to become involved in the planting later in the year.
“Family Community Tree” is a project initiated by Walking the Land and led by artists, Richard Keating and Rachel McDonnell, which supports Nailsworth Town Council's tree planting initiatives, a part of achieving a carbon neutral town.
Writing workshop with JLM Morton and Jane Maitland - Wednesday 6th July 7.00pm
Found Words is a playful mini creative writing workshop run by JLM Morton (a poet and one half of the Outposted Project) and Jane Maitland, a coach, writer and facilitator. The workshop will explore ideas about words and places using a range of writing exercises and physical activities to access your creativity.
Bernard Moxham talk on The GLOup Visual Poets - Thursday 7th July 6.30pm
Nailsworth resident Bernard Moxham will discuss his ‘unhealthy’ devotion to the writings of James Joyce and his interest in the visual arts, especially in Concrete and Visual Poetry and Book Art.
The Identity Parade. A talk by John Miles - Friday 8th July 2pm
Nailsworth resident John Miles, will introduce the visual arts novel, entitled The Identity Parade. Created by his late brother Simon, he will explain how it was made and curated. It is a story of creativity and transcendence, composed of text, collage and concrete poetry.
Free. No booking required.
Six Stories at Three Storeys - Friday 8th July 7.30pm
An evening of true stories including - The unwrapped present; a 1980’s beauty pageant; the ‘best’ man … Hosted by James Richardson, co-host of “an evening of true stories” at the Omnibus Theatre in London.
Children’s Competition entries and Nailsworth’s First Poet Laureate Crowning - Saturday 9th July 4.00 pm
Children will receive prizes and some will be invited to read their poems. Then the Laureate will be crowned and will read their work.
Poetry Café - Saturday 9th July 4.30 - 6.30pm
Poetry readings by Sir Richard Eyre, David Hale, Pip Heywood and others. The café and bar at Three Storeys will be open and all are welcome.
Honeymoon Swing Band - Saturday 9th July 7pm
Honeymoon Swing Band is a five-piece band playing a mix of classics with some Western swing and Honky Tonk influences. Add a few contemporary tunes adapted to fit the style, this is music to make you dance!
For tickets click here. If you would like to be involved in any way in the Festival of Words please contact Ros Mulhall ros.mulhall@nailsworthtowncouncil.gov.uk or Katherine Kearns clerk@nailsworthtowncouncil.gov.uk