Wordsmithery*

In 2017-18, we were awarded an Arts Council England National Lottery Funded grant for our year-long project to enthuse and infuse Medway with words. As part of Confluence: Plant; Grow; Nurture, we ran a series of zine/pamphlet making workshops, creative writing workshops, open mics, and a Writer Development Programme. We also changed the format of Confluence, from a handmade riso-printed zine to a full colour book-size magazine, and made a new website.

 

Facebook: confluencemedway

Twitter: @Wrdsmithery

 

Workshops: Creative writing

We ran creative writing library workshops; 
   "It was great, The bag of bits was a great idea."

   "More of the same!"

   We also ran a series of Writing for wellbeing workshops with IMHP - a local non-profit organisation supporting mental health and wellbeing in Medway. See more info about them on their website.  

   "It has all been interesting and has really stirred the 'grey matter'. Sam is a very good facilitator. Pleased I came, and it has stirred me to continue."

    

Workshops: Zine-making

We ran monthly zine-making workshops are at INTRA. Over 3 sessions these monthly workshops guided you in making your own pamphlet or zine. Once people have attended these workshops they were able to use the printing facilities in our monthly drop-in open afternoon sessions which happened on the same day as the workshop.

 

Events: Roundabout Nights on the road

We ran regular open mics throughout the year, as part of our spoken word night, Roundabout Nights. See the Roundabout Nights page on Facebook for event details. Our recent events have included guest headliner Henry Normal at The Brook Theatre, Burns Night at The Yard, Faversham, and Her Soul's Bright Armour at The Royal Engineers Museum.   

 

Writers’ Development Programme

There were six writers on our programme – Meet them online.

   They received monthly mentoring sessions for the past 6 months, have had the opportunity to attend a weekend writing retreat, and also have paid opportunities to assist with teaching workshops and headlining events. 

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*The project was funded by Grants for the Arts and supported by Medway Council Arts Development Team and the Plant strand of writing workshops and open mics was in partnership with Medway Libraries. We are grateful for the funding to run the project.