National Poetry Day Toolkit
TRIED & TESTED IDEAS
Manchester Libraries have always supported and promoted National Poetry Day with an event outside Manchester Central Library. The aim of the event has always been to provide something visual and entertaining to attract casual passers-by, and to be inclusive – involving both practising and published poets as well as novices. Over the years it has attracted increasing numbers of children and school classes. This year I noticed a shift to older students – particularly those learning English – their teachers were keen to get them involved as an opportunity to have some fun with the language.
Being outside is a big risk- but it has only been rained off once in 9 years. This year we hired a small marquee which cost around £400. This attracted passers-by as much as being completely in the open.
Each National Poetry Day a couple of poets used to performing and working with children have been employed to help organise the activity and encourage some writing from participants.
We also provide an open mic. so that people can perform their poems to an audience. This is always very popular with everyone- children as it gives them often their first experience of performing a poem, and more experienced poets who always like opportunities to read. An open mic. also provides an opportunity for all those people who are begining writers who want to try out their poems on an audience. You need to have someone- preferably a poet- who can ‘control’ use of the mic. so that it doesn’t get dominated by anyone. They can feed in some poems of their own and provide a performance element.
We have also often invited the mayor and/or local councillors to read poems on the mic. You usually have to provide a poem for them to read- but occasionally they have written their own!
In some years we have also employed street entertainers to add to the feeling of fun and enjoyment.
In 1999 we employed 2 poets for the week of NPD who visited a number of schools to lead half day workshops. These classes came together for a showcase of the work they had done on NPD.
In 2000 and 2001 we also had a series of more formal workshops running concurrently with the outdoor activity. These gave classes the chance to do some slightly more structured work as part of their visit- this was extremely popular with teachers and demand far outweighed supply of poets!
Time To Read currently has a full time paid co-ordinator, supported by Arts Coucil of England and Museums, Libraries and Archives, North West.