Newham Poetry Group (NPG), a volunteer-led not-for-profit community group, are inviting you to attend their Newham Poetry Festival – Poetry for All weekend thanks to an Arts Council grant.

Their event includes poetry, spoken word, open mic, music, dance and book stalls (including book swap and unique signed copies).

NPG is made up of proactive residents who believe that creative activities should be accessible to all backgrounds, ages, skills, and languages.

Peter Landman was a Stratford library volunteer bringing out the teas, when he became inspired to write a poem and become a member:

“The Poetry Group has a great atmosphere. It’s a free and easy place to express yourself. There is no competition or backbiting, no pressure to reach some sort of standard. We accept and respect what each of us has written and there is no criticism.”

The group promotes social inclusion, community engagement, and residents’ well-being, through creative activities that include poetry, writing, storytelling, music and initiatives that benefit the local community.

NPG aims to make Stratford Park the most vibrant cultural community hub in East London with a programme that focuses on amplifying marginalised voices. The majority of slots at their festival have been offered to young locals, LGBTQ+ individuals, migrants and people from the global majority.

Some of the confirmed artist/poets:

Saturday 24 of September:

Tuomo Karjalainen

Jenny Mitchell

David Lee Morgan

Sunday 25th of September:

Las Witchas

Momtaza Mehri

T M Ahmed Kaysher

Saturday 24 and Sunday 25 September, 1pm to 5pm at the Poetry House (Old Pavilion) in Stratford Park (West Ham Lane, London E15 4PT).

More information: newhampoetrygroup@gmail.com http://www.newhampoetrygroup.com

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