We shall be putting on a series of arts based events this year including our Beaminster fringe events. To link Click here to jump to Beaminster Festival Fringe Events
Tuesday 12th March – An evening with John Kay, artist and poet 7pm
“Humorous, earthy, and at times very moving, John Kay’s poetry should not be missed. His work has been
warmly received at events up and down the country, enjoyed as much on the stage as on the page. His
work is searching and thought-provoking, but it’s not po-faced or genteel.”
Malcolm Povey, South 35
Doors will open at 6.30 pm for a prompt 7pm start. We hall have an interval for refreshments and finish around 9.15.
Tea, coffee, ice-cream, snacks, available to buy. Selection of soft drinks.
The evening will be in two parts. In the first part John will tell us about his work as an artist.
He says:
I use a variety of materials, including nails and rusty metal, (baked bean cans are the best), and generally anything I can recycle. When I begin a piece of work I have no idea how it’s going to turn out, I let the mood and materials dictate. He has pieces in private collections in the UK and abroad and have had solo exhibitions at the BIC (Bournemouth Exhibition Centre), 2020, and Bournemouth Central Library, 2015.
In the second part after an interval for drinks and snacks ( not alcoholic as we don’t have a license), John will be entertaining us with his poetry. He has published two collections, ’It Wouldn’t Do’, Cowshed Press (2008) and ‘She Stole My Northern Heart’, A Million Ways (2019). His work has appeared in a number of magazines and online platforms, including South, The Interpreter’s House, The Frogmore Papers, The British Council and In, Sweat and Tears. He is an award winning poet and was represented in the Forward Anthology2003 and earned the tongue-in-cheek title of Radio Solent’s Unofficial Poet Laureate, having over forty poems broadcast over the COVID lockdown period. He recently performed at the Harmony Conference, Bournemouth University, 2023 and Bournemouth Arts by the Sea Festival 2023.
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John Kay’s biography
John was born in Bury, Lancs in 1958. He attended Rochdale College of Art and Gloucestershire College of Art. He has been married to Yvonne for over forty years and they have five grownup children. Together, they have travelled extensively, Europe, Africa, South America and the Middle East, travels which have had a major influence on my artwork and poetry. He recently
retired, having taught and trained teachers of TESOL for over 30 years.
Beaminster Festival Fringe
Tuesday 18th June – 3pm – 4.15 Poetry event with Elaine Beckett. Elaine will read poems that illustrate the intimate connection between poetry and music.
£10 per ticket. Refreshments available to buy.
Elaine Beckett was born in London. She trained as a musician and worked for many years with children with special educational needs.
Elaine gained a degree in Architecture from UCL and a PhD from the University of York. She is also a graduate of The National Film and TV school as a writer/director and works as a screen writer, Her debut pamphlet Faber New Poets 13 was published in 2016.
Her work has appeared in numerous journals and anthologies. She has won the Dorset section of the Bridport prize and has been shortlisted for the main prize more than once. Her most recent poetry collection Sea Creature Regrows Entire Body was published in 2021 by Verve .
Writing groups and workshops at Tangerine during the festival
Wednesday 19th June – Writing workshop with Lulu Allison 1.30 – 4.15 – full details to be confirmed
Thursday 20th June – Wring workshop with Lulu Allison 10 – 12.45 – full details to be confirmed
Monday 24th June – Writing for wellbeing – this is a regular monthly event