StAnza 2014

I have never been to StAnza before and had been hoping to fit a visit in this year, so imagine my delight when I was actually invited to attend as a participant, an honour I had only previously dreamed of! Eleanor Livingstone, one of the directors, had seen information and artwork from The Lightfoot Letters exhibition, which was a collaboration between myself and textile artist Maria Walker.  The exhibition has been shown at The Brindley, Runcorn, Visual Arts Cheshire in Northwich (the kind and generous poet John Hegley came to the private view on that occasion) and Waterside at Sale. But StAnza is the first time it has been shown outside Cheshire.

The exhibition will take place throughout the duration of the festival at the Preservation Trust Museum, with the artists talk taking place on the Saturday afternoon. My poem ‘Father, Skating’ will be in the Byre, in vinyl letters (which I still think of as a form of magic), acting like a trailer for the exhibition.

So this week I am busy preparing for the festival, sorting out my itinerary (because I hope to immerse myself in poetry and attend as many events as possible) and making notes of where I need to be and when.I hope to turn up to open mics to join in, bump into lots of friends and drag them back to the holiday house for coffee/wine/supper. I’m going to Paul Muldoon’s masterclass and John Greening’s events. Normally the exhibition has been mounted for us, but for the first time I am going to be involved in the curation, which was the best logistical way to do it this time.

I know that StAnza is a wonderful festival. Everyone has told me how much fun I will have. I am really grateful to Eleanor’s keen eye and awareness of what is going on, even in distant Cheshire. The programme is very full with lots of variety and many wonderful poets. And yes, I’ve been warned to take lots of jumpers and woolies!

http://www.stanzapoetry.org/index.php

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