The 5th High Wolds Poetry Festival is now open for entries around the theme of Mysterious Tales and Unusual Stories.
The free festival in North Dalton, East Yorkshire on Saturday 23 September, is an open mic, one-day festival for absolutely anyone of any age to share their own or other people’s poetry. A selection of work submitted will be published in a unique, free, custom designed book and there will be home made locally sourced food and drink available throughout the day.
Julian F. Woodford, festival director, said: “Now in its fifth year, the festival is open to any kind of poetry, not just around this year’s theme of Mysterious Tales and Unusual Stories, so you can send us your work about absolutely anything, any content, form, tone, style. It might be inspired by the Yorkshire Wolds or by your own experiences in general, it’s really up to you.
“We want poets of any ability, experience, age and background to read or listen on the day – and anyone is welcome to come and read – and this year everyone has a chance to take part in a new series of poetry workshops which Caroline [Coath] and I will be leading.”
The festival is supported by Arts Council England through East Riding Museums, whose Assistant Curator – Community, Caroline Coath, said: “We are really looking forward to seeing how the fascinating stories of the Wolds and wider East Riding can inspire our local poets. We are producing some resources to support these creative individuals which will be available by email and on social media and also at our new Poetry Workshops.”
“The workshops are tied into the theme, with the idea of helping poets to produce work in advance of the closing date for book submissions; workshop numbers are limited and filling up so let us know ASAP if you’d like a spot.”
1. Beverley Treasure House, Saturday 29 July
2. Skidby Mill, Tuesday 8 August
3. North Dalton’s All Saints Church on Saturday 26 August
All between 11:30am and 2:30pm with a 30-minute break
Nial Adams, Museums and Archives Manager, East Riding of Yorkshire Council, said: “There’s no doubt that the festival continues to thrive because of the way in which it has been able to fuse local people’s creativity with Caroline’s inclusive North Wolds community outreach work and themed interaction with our museums’ archives.
“The continued Arts Council England and East Riding of Yorkshire Council support and the mixture of wonderful homemade catering by Joanne Young and friends and the beautiful North Dalton village location seem to just come together each year with the support of local farms, hamlets, villages and towns here in the heart of the Yorkshire Wolds.”
The festival will publish a collection of work from poems submitted and will run an open mic at North Dalton Village Hall on Saturday 23 September from 11am to 6pm.
Entries for the custom-designed festival book are free and close at midnight on August 31st and can be sent by email to highwoldspoetry@gmail.com or by post to The Festival Director, The High Wolds Poetry Festival, East Riding Museums, Treasure House, Champney Road, Beverley HU17 8HE.
Entries for the Open Mic are open until Friday 22 September, the day prior to the festival.
Keep up-to-date on High Wolds Poetry Festival 2023 news here:
Facebook: www.facebook.com/TheHighWoldsPoetryFestival
Instagram: www.instagram.com/highwoldspoetry
Twitter: twitter.com/HighWoldsPoetry
You Tube: www.youtube.com/channel/UCf1K_s21RjVWJcv_FUAS1Lw
Contact Information: Email: highwoldspoetry@gmail.com