Thursday 2 June:

7pm @ Platform – Word2016 is proud to present Speakeasy#3 the third collaboration between Cardboard Citizens and Lyrix Organix

…The mic stands there, so tempting -A chance to stand up for yourself and whisper or shout – Telling the world what it’s all about – If only you could get over the barriers in the way – Of you having your say – Preventing you from turning up on the day – So you stay in your room, locked away…

Speakeasy is the result of a collaboration between Cardboard Citizens, Lyrix Organix and the young people of Islington, working together to overcome our barriers to freedom of expression. Come on the day and have your say, and maybe show our main character the way. Pay what you think it’s worth.

Also happening today…

11am-2pm: Family Arts Day @ Estorick Collection – Colour and Word Tricks –  – Try out the interactive Stroop Effect experiment to see how our brains experience the relationship between colour and words. Explore a variety of optical colour and word tricks and make your own using collage and drawing. Drop-in workshops, no booking required. Free for children accompanied by a paying adult £5, £3.50 (JSA, OAP, Disabled) £2.50 National Art Pass Holders. Suitable for all ages.

6-7.30pm: Writing the Moment @ Central Library – Join Spread the Word for a relaxing creative writing workshop to help you release your work and reconnect with your ‘writer’s voice’. Using creative techniques and imagination exercises to help you find focus, this workshop will help anyone with writers block, or any writer feeling lost in their project. Suitable for beginner – intermediate writers of fiction and poetry. Booking

Wednesday 1 June 2016:

Welcome to Word2016 kicking off with:

THE TWITS – 3-3.45pm Central Library

Mr. and Mrs. Twit are ready to welcome you to the magical world of Britain’s favourite children’s author as storyteller John Kirk retells Roald Dahl’s “The Twits” in public libraries this summer. “If you have good thoughts they will shine out of your face like sunbeams and you will always look lovely.”

Suitable for children and families age 6+.

Warning: this story contains twits being vile to each other. Some children may find these vile things upsetting.

“The Twits” is presented with the kind permission of Casarotto Ramsay and the Roald Dahl estate.

http://islingtonlibraries.eventbrite.com

and

Family Arts Days

https://wordfestivalislington.co.uk/events/word2016-things-to-do/family-arts-days/

Wednesday 13 April: We’re pleased to announce the Word2016 Festival programme is now live – download your electronic copy of the  Word Festival Brochure 2016

Printed brochures are available to pick up in all Islington libraries and local venues now!

All Change & Free Word Centre present:

WORKING WELL

Thursday 28 April 2016, 9am @ Free Word Centre

What has art got to do with wellbeing? How can we better understand and talk about mental health, and build artistic projects that work in this area?

Come along to hear about inspirational projects that bring art and wellbeing together. Hear about projects that have developed alongside research in this area, and brainstorm ideas with arts and mental health sector professionals.

A discussion event for arts and mental health professionals. Tickets are £10 and lunch is included. Click here to book

[Image: Key Changes – Living Lyrics performance Word2015 @ Cally Festival]

WORD2016 is seeking Expressions of Interest from artists and arts organisations for ongoing projects and activities to include and promote as part of this year’s festival in 1-30 June 2016.

The CO-PROMOTION element of Word2016 will enable partner venues and arts organisations based in Islington to promote their on-going work to the broadest possible local audiences under the umbrella of the Word festival.

(Please note there is no funding available to support Co-promotions. Support is provided through the festival branding and inclusion brochure and website only.)

The deadline for submissions for Co-promotions is: 12 noon, Friday 29 January 2016

Download the Guidelines and Application Forms here:

WORD2016 Festival Expression of Interest Guidelines Co-Promotions

WORD2016 Co-promotion proposal form

WORD2016 is seeking Expressions of Interest from artists and arts organisations for participatory projects for next year’s festival.

The deadline for submissions for Commissions and Co-productions is: 12 noon, Monday 9 November 2015

The deadline for submissions for Co-promotions is: 12 noon, Friday 29 January 2016

Download the Guidelines, Application Forms and Guide to Islington Mental Health Resource Guide here:

WORD2016 Festival Expression of Interest Guidelines

WORD2016 Commission or Co-production Expression of interest proposal form

WORD2016 Co-promotion proposal form

Mental Health Resources Islington

Don’t miss these wonderful Word2015 festival publications –

WORDS ARE BIRDS 2 – a poetry anthology by Thornhill Primary School pupils and Paul Lyalls working with All Change – and

THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN CRAB & NANA MONSTER – created by families at Paradise Park Children’s Centre working with House of Illustration and Curved House –

both available at your local Islington Library : )

As part of an exciting partnership for Word2015 and the Finsbury Park Creative Hub initiative, City North London N4 project has worked with All Change to create this specially designed poetic artwork for the hoardings on Wells Terrace N4 . Poet Yemisi Blake worked in collaboration with local older people to create magical poetry inspired by the unique personality of life in Finsbury Park. Designers Magpie Studio have taken the poetry and developed a typographical treat for passers-by to enjoy.

AFTER WORD: Thurs 9 & Fri 10 July -Islington Community Theatre presents WIRED – We are living in exciting times; in a period of revolutionary, evolutionary change. We are past the tipping point of the  Digital Revolution and we have no idea what happens next.

Through spoken word, theatre, movement and music, a group of 16-18 year olds explore their physical and digital selves and ask what happens when these two worlds collide?

Wired is a new play co-produced by Islington Community Theatre and Platform Islington with support from the Word Festival 2015.  It has been written by the poet and playwright Francesca Beard, directed by Miranda Cromwell and made by winners of the Islington Young Theatre Makers Award 2015.

Wired is a piece of first stage work.  It is a play that we have created with a group of our core company members that we may choose to develop into a professional production in the future, or might influence or inspire another future production

Performances: 2pm & 7pm, Thu 9 July and 2pm & 7pm, Fri 10 JulyTickets £6, Concessions £4, under 19s £2

Bringing this year’s festival to a close is the final Free Word of the Week – MUNIFICENT meaning generous.

Look out for posters in public spaces this week.

Throughout the year you can continue to enjoy a new word every day – follow @FreeWordCentre  on Twitter for a #FreeWordOfTheDay – a bright and shiny word tweeted every weekday from the MUNIFICENT team at Free Word Centre – from the blackboard in front of their building in Farringdon.