12 October 2009

Poetry Event Showcases Local Female Talent

Female literary talents took to the spotlight yesterday (Thursday 9
October 2009) at the University of Sheffield, to showcase their work in
celebration of National Poetry Day.
The ‘Hear Women Poets, Here’ event, which was co-sponsored by the
University’s School of English, featured readings by female poets from
in and around the city, including Elizabeth Barrett, Liz Cashdan and
River Wolton.

Other local female poets who shared their work at the event in a bid to
highlight the passion and intelligence behind women’s poetry included
Nell Farrell, Sally Goldsmith, Geraldine Monk, Ann Sansom and Debjani
Chatterjee.

The event at St George’s Church on Mappin Street follows on from the
success of renowned poet Carol Ann Duffy, who this year became the first
female Poet Laureate and dedicated her appointment to women poets
everywhere. Carol Ann Duffy visited the University earlier this year as
part of a ‘New Ground’ poetry readings event organised by the School of
English, which also featured Simon Armitage and Ciaran Carson.

‘Hear Women Poets, Here’ also marked the launch of a new Creative
Writing pathway to the MA in English Literature at the University of
Sheffield, in collaboration with the Institute of Life Long Learning
creative writing programme.

The new course, which began this term, is designed to help young and
emergent writers toward successful publication and Trinidadian poet
Vahni Capildeo will be the leading force behind the pathway in its
launch year. It is therefore hoped the ‘Hear Women Poets, Here’ event
helped inspire budding student poets to explore their creative ability.

Professor Adam Piette from the University’s School of English, said:
“Writing comes from the heart and brain working together and the reading
proved that, with food for thought and some extraordinarily moving
poems, ranging from the high-octane witty to the heartbreakingly beautiful.

“We’re proud to be involved in the event which just shows the
efflorescence of women’s poetry here in Sheffield these last years. We
hope this will inspire poets to come and study creative writing with us
at the University.”

Poet Liz Cashdan commented: “It gave me special pleasure to be one of
the eight poets taking part in the event as I teach Creative Writing in
both the Department of English and the Institute of Life Long Learning
at the University of Sheffield, as well as for Sheffield Workers’
Educational Association.

“This was a wonderful event for poetry lovers in both the town and the
University and hopefully it will make new converts to the cause of poetry.”