Join us at our Writing Home session at Open House Oxford on Wednesday 31 July, 10am-12 noon to pick up your own copy of our brand new hot-of-the-presses zine, Oxford Is My Home, and try your hand at a bit of poetry-writing fun!
On 27th April 2019, people from across the Oxfordshire community came together at Open House to create a zine in just a single day.
The event was run in the spirit of Open House: offering a space and platform to have new conversations about housing and homelessness in Oxford, where labels are dropped and equality of voice is paramount. There was no hierarchical operation, and contributors simply used the materials they were surrounded by to engage with the subject. Content was produced collaboratively, through group writing exercises, shared artwork, and by using individual’s content to inspire or to be physically reworked by other’s in the room.
Everything collected on the day has now been published: without author, without titles, without edit. The result is eclectic, straight-forward and very personal, showcasing the rich and diverse notions of ‘home’ from a broad demographic. You’ll find poetry, art, stories, both real and fictional, as well as ideas, opinions and solutions to the challenges of housing in Oxford.
We welcome you to Open House on 31st July to pick up a copy of the zine for a mere £5 (contributors get a free copy!). Editions will also be available from the Oxford Poetry Library, long-term supporters of the Open House project, at their local market appearances thereafter.
And if you feel inspired to join this conversation then we’re seeking contributions for our next edition about housing problems and housing solutions – whether these are expressed through art, creative writing, life stories or opinions. Get in touch at hello@openhouseoxford.org or, better still, pop in for a cup of tea at 36 Little Clarendon Street.
