WORD

Friday 19 June:

7pm – Inspired by the ‘School for Mothers’ at Manor Gardens founded in 1913 – Dispensing Wisdom is an extraordinary arts and heritage event created by young women in collaboration with professional artists, which explores the changing story of healthcare for women over the past 100 years. This immersive performance experience located over two locations, has been inspired by interviews with older women; visits to the amazing archive collections at Manor Gardens, Islington Museum, The Foundling Museum and London Metropolitan Archives; and been devised in workshops with professional artists Kat Francois, Marysa Dowling and Mila Sanders.

Dispensing Wisdom is a partnership between All Change, Manor Gardens Centre and Islington Museum.

Free entry. Booking essential – call All Change 020 7689 4646.

Thursday 18 June:

10.30am-12.30pm join House of Illustration and Curved House Kids for the launch of ‘Our Cally Stories’ – a story book created by families from Paradise Park Children’s Centre working with an illustrator and a writer. Come and see the published book, meet the families and join in the celebrations.

Booking essential – email emily.jost@houseofillustration.org.uk For a sneak preview of the project Click Here

Wednesday 17 June:

Apples and Snakes present SPIN at West Library, Bridgeman Road, N1

whirling, twirling, twisting tales
reeling rhythm, giddy rhymes
playful poems pirouette
listen as we spin some sounds

Apples and Snakes word-wizards cook up wonderful ways to play with words, showing just what you can do with them.
Top-class rappers, poets and storytellers each with their own distinct style will send you spiraling into a poetry revolution! Engaging and interactive … revealing everything that poetry is and can be. 11.15am – 12pm: Open session for Under 5s (families) Free entry [Plus invitation only sessions for local primary and nursery schools.]

Other opportunities today include Dickensian Walks with the Charles Dickens Museum at 11.30am and 5pm… and young people aged 13-19 can join Islington Community Theatre at Platform and let it all out; write a monologue, pretend you’re someone else, or just laugh with mates until everything seems better.

Tuesday 16 May:

We may be in the final week of this year’s Word2015 Festival, but there are plenty of ‘wordy’ activities coming up this summer, and throughout the year. The Summer Reading Challenge runs from 4 July -20 September 2015. If you’re aged 4-11, this year’s Summer Reading Challenge challenges you to explore some of the astonishing real-life achievements and world records. Read 6 books, collect stickers and discover the wonderful and wacky records from around the world in six categories: Cool Tech, Way to Go!, The Big Stuff, Animal Magic, Action! Adventure! and People Power. If you finish all 6 books, you could also win one of our great prizes! For more information go to www.summerreadingchallenge.org.uk

Watch out too for our programme of summer events including record-breaking themed drama and craft events.Or if you’re aged 13-19 – why not become a Summer Reading Challenge Champion For more details go to www.islington.gov.uk/libraries

Monday 15 June:

This week’s word is PHRONISTERY – look out for posters in venues across the borough!

Sunday 14 June:

A bumper day of  performances today… catch Word2015  poet-in-residence Paul Lyalls hosting Story Street at Cally Festival – part of this a huge one-day street party on the Caledonian Road. Story Street will see storytelling, poetry, rap, spoken word and readings with performances from local people and well-known poets and storytellers including Words are Birds – by Thornhill Primary School’s Year 3 & 4s at 1pm and #livinglyrics from Key Changes at 3pm. Come and pull up a hay bale and enjoy the show…

Meanwhile at Central Library – Prof Patel is Britain’s first Asian Punch & Judy Professor performing his own unique version of Punch and Judy using characters drawn from the diversity of modern day Britain . Prof Patel’s Asian influenced show includes lots of fun multi-cultural characters including the popular Dr Singh who likes to go Ping. Upbeat and funny, Prof Patel’s Punjeet and Judy Gee Show is a wonderful combination of the traditional and modern – keeping Mr Punch/Punjeet at the centre of the action whilst making the show relevant to modern multi-cultural Britain. 2.30pm FREE

Saturday 13 June:

in the centre of Clerkenwell, 500 people will gather to celebrate the 800th anniversary of the Magna Carta. This Alternative Celebration will recognise the importance of Magna Carta in curtailing the powers of the executive, but also challenge and appraise modern Britain’s attitude to civil liberties. There will be poets, writers, artists, social activists, MPs, human rights lawyers and dissidents – and where better for a Magna Carta celebration with teeth than Clerkenwell, London’s historic centre of dissent?

Confirmed speakers so far include Paul Mason, Zoe Williams, Kier Starmer QC, Ellie Mae O’Hagan, Suzanne Moore, Tom Hunter, Bob and Roberta Smith and many others. We’re bringing together eclectic themes and audiences to explore Britishness and liberty in all its forms.

For more information, please visit the festival website.

Presented by 89up in partnership with Apples and Snakes, ARTICLE 19 and supported by Free Word.

Thursday 11 June & Friday 12 June:

As part of Islington Giving Week, join Arsenal in the Community for a walk around the local area. The walk focuses on the history and development of the village of Highbury from the 12^th Century to the present day. The focus is on local history although the latter part focuses on Arsenal FC’s 100 years in the borough. Walks taking place on Thursday 11 & Friday 12 June with limited availability. Please email Samir Singh: ssingh@arsenal.co.uk to book.

Or join Estorick Collection of Modern Italian Art to create your own poster design inspired by the Futurist artists’ ‘words-in-freedom’ approach to typographic layout, and contribute your own decorated letter for next year’s Islington Giving Week’s logo – at Waterstones, Islington Green – drop-in for all ages from 3.30 – 6.30pm, Free.

Wednesday 10 June:

10am-1pm, Join fellow professionals working in the fields of arts and mental health to share experiences and discover common ground. With presentations by some successful partnership projects to inspire you and break out discussions, this is a unique opportunity to explore new approaches to partnership working. Word2016 will again prioritise arts projects that use reading and writing to have an impact on mental health and wellbeing. This morning event is an opportunity to start to develop ideas and conversations.

Tickets are £10 and lunch is included. For more information on the event and how to book click here

Other opportunities today include Dickensian Walks with the Charles Dickens Museum at 11.30am and 5pm… and young people aged 13-19 can join Islington Community Theatre at Platform and let it all out; write a monologue, pretend you’re someone else, or just laugh with mates until everything seems better.

CLICK HERE to see STRESS a film made by young people with Islington Community Theatre as part of Word2015

Tuesday 9 June:

Panel Discussion – Creating Art in Dementia Care – 6.45pm Join choreographer Jennifer Essex, poet Sarah Hesketh, and the artist and Director of the Trebus Project, David Clegg, as they discuss their experiences during the Where the Heart Is project. Chaired by Mark Butler, Director of Development at the Dementia Services Development Centre at Stirling University. There will also be the opportunity to view the project exhibition currently on display at the Free Word Centre.

To book  contact lauren@freewordcentre.com or call  020 7324 2573