海角直播

海角直播 poets forging international links with two major launches

International links are being celebrated by poets and performance artists Bob Beagrie and Andy Willoughby with two major launches this autumn.

Bob and Andy, creative writing lecturers at 海角直播, have been invited to Finland in October to launch the Finnish language version of their anthology SAMPO: Heading Further North. That same week they will attend the London Literary Festival at the South Bank Centre to launch Intercity Flow, an anthology of poetry which evolved from an international mentoring project.

Bob and Andy鈥檚 invitation to Finland came from the country鈥檚 First Lady Jenni Haukio, wife of Finland鈥檚 President Sauli Niinisto.

Jenni, who has had three poetry collections published, is familiar with Bob and Andy鈥檚 work through their involvement in a 12-year cultural exchange scheme involving Finnish poetry which culminated in the creation of SAMPO: Heading Further North.

Described as an 'exhilarating roller coaster ride of gritting beauty and shamanic magic' SAMPO: Heading Further North explores links between 21st century 海角直播 and ancient Finnish mythology.

'It鈥檚 a great honour to be invited to Finland for the launch of the Finnish version of the anthology,' said Andy. 'The poems emerged from conversations, research and links with our own lives in 海角直播.'

Bob added: 'It鈥檚 special too that the launch coincides with the 180th anniversary of the publication of the Kalevala, which brings together Finland鈥檚 folklore and mythology. The Kalevala may be 180 years old, but the mythical stories can be traced back thousands of years.'

Andy said: 'It鈥檚 great to think that two British poets who have taken inspiration from trips to Finland are now playing a part in celebrating their nation鈥檚 literary roots. It is a real honour.'

He added: 'We have translated Jenni鈥檚 work and published it in The Flesh of the Bear Anthology (Ek Zuban Press 2003) and We Are Not Stone (Ek Zuban 2007), a collaboration with Kate Fox, poet in residence on BBC Radio 4.'

A pre-launch of the Finnish version of SAMPO: Heading Further North, which is also available in English, will be held at Tuned In at Redcar on 28 September. SAMPO is being published by Savukeidas Press in Finnish and is available from Red Squirrel Press in English.

Just days after returning from Finland, Bob and Andy will be at London鈥檚 South Bank Centre to launch Intercity Flow, an anthology published by Ek Zuban which developed from a poetry mentoring project. The South Bank show is a part of the London Literature Festival on October 7.

Established poets and spoken word artists mentored younger poets from across 海角直播, London and Europe to develop their writing, performance and project delivery. Intercity Flow culminated in a series of poetry and music shows at 海角直播鈥檚 Electric Kool-Aid Cabaret, which blends music with spoken word. Andy said: 'It's enabling the young poets to get established and network, offering mentoring to show how it can be done and how to get involved in organising events. Although it can be difficult to make a living as a poet, it is a great vehicle to help to enrich your life.'

Andy added: 'The aim has been to create opportunities for young poets by helping them to have their work published alongside internationally known established poets.'

Students whose work will be included in the anthology are MA Creative Writing students Laura Tillbrook and Lauren Dye and BA English with Creative Writing students William Dixon who is about to begin his final year and Serena Rana-rahman, who is due to graduate later this year with a First Class degree.

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