The Poetry Cafe

Upcoming events at The Poetry Cafe

The Poetry Cafe is a cafe in St Giles. Near Here currently lists 7 upcoming events, including As I Said: Responding to Objects, As I Said: Meet the Artists & Curators Talk and As I Said: Exquisite Corpse.

Community

As I Said: Responding to Objects

This is the first of three free workshops as part of One Word’s As I Said exhibition, showing in the Poetry Café 31 July – 13 August. This workshop, and the rest in the series, take place at The Poetry Café, London. You can choose to attend just one in the series, two or all three. Book for workshop 2 (Exquisite Corpse) here and workshop 3 (Ekphrastic Poetry) here. This workshop will use objects, ranging from the mundane to the strange, as start points for writing. We will take you through a series of short-structured prompts, throwing lots at the page to see what sticks. Expect to leave with a pile of embryonic poems. This accessible workshop is great for new poets and genre fluid writers but is open to all levels of experience. It will suit people who enjoy tightly structured-sessions and using visual prompts. There will be a chance to share at the end but no pressure to do so! Objects will be provided, though feel free to bring your own to respond to. Please arrive with something to write with and on. There are 15 places available, an accessible toilet and water tap. The series is led by One Word, a poetry and art project by Lio Stevens and Karl Murphy. Thanks to The Poetry Society, Saatchi Gallery Learning, and Grafters Collective for their generous support. This project is supported using public funding by the National Lottery through Arts Council England. Please note: this workshop is for over-18s only.

Sat 1 Aug12:00The Poetry Cafe

via The Poetry Cafe

Talks & Lectures

As I Said: Meet the Artists & Curators Talk

This ‘Meet the Curators & Artists’ talk is part of One Word’s As I Said exhibition, showing in the Poetry Café 31 July – 13 August. Join us for this relaxed standing talk and exhibition walk-through with both the curators and several exhibiting As I Said artists. Come along to find out what ‘artwork shaped by poetry and poetry shaped by artwork’ means in practice. As I Said’s programme brought together six emerging artists from Grafters Collective and fifteen emerging poets from a wide range of backgrounds, many of whom were trying poetry for the first time. Programme curators Lio and Karl will talk more about the rationale of the project while the artists will speak on their process and project outcomes. There will be a chance for attendees to ask questions as we go. Please aim to arrive at the start of the event. There are 25 tickets available. There is seating available for those who need it, a lift between floors and accessible toilets. Please note: this event is suitable for over-18s only due to the exhibition’s occasional adult themes and language. As well as this talk, there are three free participatory workshops you can take part in, and a performance event where the featured poets will read their work. All events in this series take place at The Poetry Café, London. You can choose to attend just one event or several. Book for workshop 1 (Responding to Objects) here and workshop 2 (Exquisite Corpse) here, and workshop 3 (Ekphrastic Poetry) here.

Sat 1 Aug14:00The Poetry Cafe

via The Poetry Cafe

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Community

As I Said: Exquisite Corpse

This is the second of three free workshops as part of One Word’s As I Said exhibition, showing in the Poetry Café 31 July – 13 August. This workshop, and the rest in the series, take place at The Poetry Café, London. You can choose to attend just one in the series, two or all three. Book for workshop 1 (Responding to Objects) here and workshop 3 (Ekphrastic Poetry) here. This workshop will use ‘exquisite corpses’ – collaboratively made drawings – as start points for writing. After making quick drawings, we will move through a series of short-structured writing prompts. Expect to leave with a pile of playful drafts, and a stretched imagination. Great for new poets, genre fluid writers, and people who like tightly-structured sessions, though all levels of experiences welcome. There will be a chance to share at the end but no pressure to do so! Drawing materials will be provided, but please bring something to write with and on. Please note – you do not have to be a confident drawer whatsoever to participate! There are 15 places available, an accessible toilet and water tap. The series is led by One Word, a poetry and art project by Lio Stevens and Karl Murphy. Thanks to The Poetry Society, Saatchi Gallery Learning, and Grafters Collective for their generous support. This project is supported using public funding by the National Lottery through Arts Council England. Please note: this workshop is for over-18s only.

Wed 5 Aug19:30The Poetry Cafe

via The Poetry Cafe

Likely freeCommunity

'As I Said' Readings from Poets and Artists

Join us for a relaxed evening of readings from the poets and artists of As I Said exhibition and associated publication. Come to hear poems written in response to artworks, whilst sitting amongst the exhibition of artworks that shaped them! It will be many of these poets and artists first time reading in front of an audience, so please bring a spirit of generosity and support. This event will be an opportunity to celebrate the participants’ new writing and the wrap of a several month long programme. Limited public tickets available. Free copies of the As I Said publication will be available to take. The Poetry Café is a fully wheelchair accessible space with a lift to the basement, accessible toilet, and hearing induction loop available. This project is supported using public funding by the National Lottery through Arts Council England. This event is part of part of One Word’s As I Said exhibition, showing in the Poetry Café 31 July – 13 August. There is also a programme of creative workshops, free to attend. The exhibition itself is open for drop-ins at selected times – find out more here. Please note: this event is suitable for over-18s only due to poems with occasional adult themes and language.

Sat 8 Aug20:00The Poetry Cafe

via The Poetry Cafe

Arts & Culture

As I Said: Ekphrastic poetry

This is the last of three free workshops as part of One Word’s As I Said exhibition, showing in the Poetry Café 31 July – 13 August. This workshop, and the rest in the series, take place at The Poetry Café, London. You can choose to attend just one in the series, two or all three. Book for workshop 1 (Responding to Objects) here and workshop 2 (Exquisite Corpse) here. This workshop will focus on ekphrastic poetry, writing in response to the artworks in As I Said’s exhibition. Expect a slower paced session allowing you to explore your interpretations of art through poetry. This workshop is great for poets with an interest in visual arts, artists with an interest in writing, and people who enjoy longer prompts. There will be a chance to share at the end but no pressure to do so! Please bring something to write with and on. Please note that we’ll be writing in the exhibition space, where there’ll be chairs but no tables. We therefore recommend bringing either a hardback journal or a clipboard to write comfortably against. There are 15 places available, a lift to the basement floor, an accessible toilet and water tap. The series is led by One Word, a poetry and art project by Lio Stevens and Karl Murphy. Thanks to The Poetry Society, Saatchi Gallery Learning, and Grafters Collective for their generous support. This project is supported using public funding by the National Lottery through Arts Council England. Please note: this workshop is for over-18s only.

Wed 12 Aug19:30The Poetry Cafe

via The Poetry Cafe

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Workshops & Classes

Workshop for 7-11s: Writing and drawing camels... and other animals

Children and their parents are invited to join a family-friendly creative workshop led by poet and comedian John Hegley. Aimed at children aged 7-11 and their families, the workshop will be fun and interactive, bringing together writing and drawing. Younger siblings are welcome. Babies enter for free. The Poetry Cafe is an accessible space with step-free access. All children to be accompanied by adults. All adults to be accompanied by children. No experience necessary, just experiences and co-operation. Biscuits provided. About John Hegley John Hegley was born in Islington and now lives in the neighbouring borough of Hackney. Poetry-wise he wrote his first in Luton, the town he moved to aged ten. He has made ten books of poems and was poet in residence at Keats House, Hampstead in 2012. He has a practice which involves interaction and has conducted workshops in different situations, including the Poetry Café, drawing camels and writing their thoughts on the ‘wise men’ who rode them. About the workshop A workshop for people who have been seven years old. There is no need to feel burdened by the camel-drawing; you are only asked to draw a leg of the beast alongside whole fishes and cats with your bits of writing alongside, alongside thoughts about things for which you are grateful. Includes mandolin accompaniment and optional sharing.

Sat 22 Aug11:30The Poetry Cafe

via The Poetry Cafe

Likely freeArts & Culture

Young Poets Takeover in The Poetry Café

Please note that this is an in-person open mic for young people, taking place at The Poetry Cafe in Covent Garden, London. Come along to hear from the up-and-coming stars of the poetry world… This Young Poets Takeover will feature some of the most recent winners of the Foyle Young Poets of the Year Award and the writing challenges on Young Poets Network. But there’s also an open mic section for absolutely anyone aged 14-25 to sign up and perform. Tickets are free, but booking is essential. You’ll be able to meet some of your peers as well as listen to some top-notch poetry. So join us for a poetry gig by and for young writers, hosted by The Poetry Society’s Education Officer Cia Mangat. This event is not suitable for young people aged 13 and under. Since the Poetry Café is a small venue with a very limited capacity, we may not be able to accommodate accompanying parents or guardians. Email queries and any access requirements to The Poetry Cafe has a lift between the ground floor and basement, an accessible toilet and a hearing induction loop. Want to perform? If you’re feeling brave, you can sign up for a 2 minute open mic slot when you arrive. We welcome all styles of poetry and writers at all stages in their development.

Sat 22 Aug15:15The Poetry Cafe

via The Poetry Cafe

Event details on Near Here are aggregated from third-party sources and may change. Always verify times, location, availability, and any price directly with the organiser before travelling. See Terms.