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1 August 2003
One year in Amsterdam and just getting started...
• Letter from Meg
• Got Stage but No Poets?
• Behind and In the Scenes
• 15th Annual Féile Filíochta
International Poetry Contest
• Stanza's Calling
• Versal submission deadline: August 31
• August Literary Picks
LETTER FROM MEG
This time last year I spent
a lot of hours at the Blue Teahouse talking with others about what
we now call wordsinhere. Those first few months were exciting
but fragile. When I first moved to Amsterdam, there was next to
nothing for a poet to do (besides the usual writing alone in cafe
corners). It took several conversations before the something we
wanted began to make sense. How to create it was another question.
Many of us met in the informal
writing workshop which I started in late winter of 2002. Some of
us had been here for awhile, had tried this or that scene, and many
of us who laid our hands on the original groundwork knew —
or soon found out — that like the watery underground of Amsterdam
we had little solid ground on which to build. We were chasing a
string of closed international open mics; a few rumors, squat stories,
and regular expat poets stood like Leidseplein from Burger King
to Hard Rock. The Dutch, forever supportive of its writers and poets,
stayed away from the expat scenes and flew in hand-picked writers
from abroad to stand alongside their own — without any expat
undertones — at one-off festivals. To many of us, the 'scene'
was not only divided; it was completely uninspiring.
Only a year later and the story
is changed. Over the past 12 months we have come into contact with
not only 100s of writers and poets but also some of the Netherlands'
best — if you ignore the fact that many of them do not have
the Dutch passport. There is a thriving community here and it's
getting bigger. On any given night in the winter months you will
find a poetry reading somewhere in Amsterdam. The poetries showcased
and the languages speaking them become increasingly various. Maybe
next year the festivals won't want to look so far for their international
programs.
wordsinhere will continue
our work to open the community's borders to the diversities and
talents which live in the Dutch postcodes. Kate, one of Versal's
editors, said it's like building a highway between the international
and the Dutch poetic communities. The irony of it, though, is that
the international community is right here. But we're going to help
build every centimeter of it, no matter how short the distance.
NEWS
In our Stanza
archives we're developing not only a self-involved memory collection.
These archives are also around for those of you out there, worldwide,
who are looking for performance talent.
The writers and performers at The Open
Stanza are deliberately chosen. For every show, we look for
writers whose work has fire not only on the page but also when their
own voice is behind it, on stage and personal. We stand by the poets
and writers of The Open Stanza — and we want you to
get to know them too.
Soon, along with the bio and contact info
already there, we will feature MP3 samples of the performances in
our archives. If a poet has not included contact information, simply
email openstanza@wordsinhere.com
and we'll get in touch with them for you.
Have you ever hosted a poetry night? Been
on the crew for a literary magazine? Organized a novelists writing
group? Met up with writers in a dark bar's corner and argued over
a line break?
The network that wordsinhere is building
and the work we do aims to support writers and poets in their own
ambitions and ideas. If you want to get involved in some way, even
if you don't know what that way is, email info@wordsinhere.com.
We'll meet up for coffee. That's how it usually begins.
CALLS
FOR WRITERS
The Open Stanza begins its second season starting
19 September. We're looking for poets and writers from anywhere,
any language, any style. As long as your words get off the page.
We're also looking for musicians, so spread the word. Info and submissions:
openstanza@wordsinhere.com.
The literary print magazine of wordsinhere
— Versal — is currently accepting submissions
for its second issue out December, 2003.
Full guidelines and online sample of our
first issue can be found here.
For questions and submissions, email submissions@wordsinhere.com.
We accept snail mail only with a SASE: Van Hogendorpstraat 123-I;
1051 BL Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
Deadline: August 31, 2003.
The 15th Annual Féile Filíochta
- Europe's biggest and brightest international poetry competition
- is underway! Last year it attracted in excess of 4,600 entries
in nine languages from all over the world and we are now looking
for your entries.
With a prize fund of €12,300 from
Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council, three age categories
and a range of additional prizes from cultural organisations and
embassies, the Féile Filíochta is internationally
recognised as a showcase and stimulus for the craft of poetry writing.
The competition is open to all adults and
young people, who may submit up to four poems in each language in
their age group. Entry is free of charge. This year, entries are
invited in Irish, English, German, French, Italian, Welsh, Spanish,
Scottish Gaelic and Swedish. Our judges for 2003 include Nuala Ní
Dhomhnaill, Ciaran O'Driscoll, Pat Boran, Peter Jankowsky, Jean
Philippe Imbert, Silvia Bertoni, Dewi Wyn Evans, Antonia Flores,
Rody Gorman and our Swedish jury.
Closing date for receipt of entries is Saturday,
11th October 2003. For more information and entry forms, visit www.dlrcoco.ie/library.
AUGUST EVENTS WE'RE GOING TO ATTEND
15-17 August, 1pm - 12am
Java Island, Amsterdam
A festival of music, dance, theater, film,
spoken word, and art. For more information: www.openhavenpodium.nl.
27-31 August
Various Locations, Amsterdam
Ladyfest is a non-profit cultural-social-political
event run by women to celebrate and showcase women in the arts.
The festival includes music, films, art, and spoken word. Check
out the extended program online at www.ladyfestamsterdam.org.
Friday 29 August, 8pm
Paradiso, Amsterdam
Palabras returns after the summer holiday
for a new season of The Phrase Stage. With Nii Parkes, Ramona Maramis,
Naomi De Rooij, Rina & Zoe Barefoot, Semtex, and DJ Wonder.
Entrance: 6.50. For more information, visit www.palabras.nl.
29-31 August
Museum & Leidsepleins, Amsterdam
More than 2000 artists on 28 stages at this
year's Uitmarkt. Palabras joins the festivities with a special presentation
of their Phrase Stage. More information: www.uitmarkt.nl.
For the full list of August Events and for a listing
of regular shows, click
here.
aBOUT THIS LIST AND ADDRESS REMOVAL
This list provides news and information
about the wordsinhere community and its projects, as well
as a listing of this month's choice events in and around the Netherlands.
How do you get an event on the newsletter AND on the site? Email
it to us: calendar@wordsinhere.com.
Please feel free to distribute this e-mail
to those who you believe would be interested. Thank you very much
for your help and support.
You have received this message either because
you or someone else has added you to the wordsinhere mailing
list. If your email address changes or you wish to unsubscribe,
simply send an email to mailinglist@wordsinhere.com
with the appropriate subject-heading.
Copyright © wordsinhere 2003. No part
may be reproduced, in whole or in part, without the specific written
permission of wordsinhere first hand and obtained. wordsinhere is
a registered association through the Kamer van Koophandel, Netherlands.
Number 34181684.
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