Happy New Year!

Dear Writers and Readers,

As we enter the first month of another twenty-first century year, we look forward to twelve months of good writing, good reading, and live Literature events in Swindon.

Artswords intends to play a key part in helping to make many good things happen.
If you want to keep abreast of Literature development projects and festivals that Artswords will be organising or supporting, you can follow us via this monthly newsletter, or updates on Facebook and Twitter (See links below the newsletter)

Or, via our our brand new website! See: www.artswords.co.uk

Here’s what’s on offer in January.


This month's Mum’s the Word meeting, for mothers interested in writing, takes place at 7.30pm at Lower Shaw Farm on Tuesday 6th January.
For further information, contact Karen at mattkarensmith@yahoo.co.uk

At the AGM in December, BlueGate Poets became Poetry Swindon. Please see their new website for full details: www.poetryswindon.org

On Tuesday 13th January, the Poetry Swindon Open Mic welcomes you to share poems, stories, or songs, for up to 5 minutes each. Our guest poet this month is Josephine Corcoran The ticket cost is £3 BG members and £5 to non-members. Refreshments will be available for sale.  The evening starts at 7pm to sign up and the new venue is the The Victoria, 88 Victoria Road Swindon Wiltshire SN1 3BD  email Sam Loveless for full details: sam.loveless1988@gmail.com

At 7.30pm Tuesday 20th January at Lower Shaw Farm the Artswords Reading Group meets to discuss The Good Man Jesus and the Scoundrel Christ by Philip Pullman. Novelistic re-telling of the story of Jesus and Christ as if they were brothers with contrasting personalities. One is a moral and godly man, while the other is a calculating figure who wishes to found a powerful organisation. Hmm. . .

For further details, contact: matt@lowershawfarm.co.uk

For other local Reading Groups that take place in Libraries, see HERE

On Tuesday 27th January, it’s Holocaust Memorial Day. This year’s theme is ‘Keep the memory alive.’ At 12.00 noon, there will be a wreath laying ceremony at the Cenotaph in Regent Circus; and at 12.30pm, readings and words at Friends Meeting House, Eastcott Hill.  Poems, readings, and stories welcome. Please contact matt@lowershawfarm.co.uk

The next Writers’ CafĂ© and Kitchen takes place from 6pm on Thursday 29th January at Lower Shaw Farm. Cost £2. Starts with pot-luck supper from 6pm. If you can, please bring something to nibble or drink, to share with others. Following acclimatisation with food and friendly chat, we take time to look at our writing. You may simply read your work for up to 5 minutes; or, if you’d like your work to be the subject of helpful comments and discussion, bring 10 copies of one piece of writing. This should amount to no more than 500 words of prose or 40 lines of poetry.

Note. A new departure! We also welcome anyone with 5-minute stories to tell. If you have a story, to tell, not read, and ideally a story from your life, please bring it along.

Other News:

The Corinium Museum in Cirencester is running a poetry competition. They are looking for poems of up to 40 lines inspired by an object displayed or theme interpreted at the museum. The closing date for entries is 6th February 2015.  CATEGORIES:The competition is open to three age categories:16 years old and above, 11-15 years old, Under 11s  See HERE for full details.

If you have any news or events for February that you would like to share with other readers of ARTSWORDS NEWS, please let us know by the middle of this month.

Happy New Year!

Matt Holland & Hilda Sheehan
SWINDON ARTSWORDS
LOVE LITERATURE! LOVE LIFE!