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DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20241116T140000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20241116T160000
DTSTAMP:20260403T193148
CREATED:20240719T164315Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240719T164315Z
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SUMMARY:The Reading Circle
DESCRIPTION:People who never read poetry don’t write poems that are worth reading – Wendy Cope \n  \nIf you’re keen to find a way in to reading and appreciating poetry\, discover new writing\, and open your mind to the world of poetry\, welcome to The Reading Circle. \n  \nCome to OPL’s poetry reading group where we’ll share and discuss poems written in the 20th and 21st centuries in a relaxed and inclusive peer-led environment. \n  \nQuestions we’ll be asking include: \n  \nWhat makes a poem ‘work’?  \nWhy do we like a poem? Why don’t we?  \nIs there such a thing as a fashionable poem? Does it matter?  \nCan we love a poem we don’t fully understand? What makes mystery different to obscurity?  \nWhat might we learn from other poets that can help us enrich our own craft?  \n  \nThe Reading Circle meets on the third Saturday of each month\, 2-4 pm in The Community Works. \n  \nWe suggest a donation to attend each session: £5 for general admission (£10 for those able to donate a bit more) and registration is required here. Donations are optional and shouldn’t be prohibitive to you attending\, but all proceeds go to the running costs of the Oxford Poetry Library and our ability to continue providing these sorts of sessions. \n  \nFacilitated by the established writers and prolific readers Alan Buckley and Vanessa Lampert \n  \nThe building is accessible\, but if you have any specific access needs\, please drop us an email at oxfordpoetrylibrary@gmail.com beforehand.
URL:https://oxfordpoetrylibrary.com/event/the-reading-circle-9/
LOCATION:The Community Works\, 21 Park End Street\, Oxford\, OX1 1HH\, United Kingdom
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://oxfordpoetrylibrary.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Reading-Circle-version-2.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20241117T100000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20241117T213000
DTSTAMP:20260403T193148
CREATED:20240809T125249Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20241108T220746Z
UID:7443-1731837600-1731879000@oxfordpoetrylibrary.com
SUMMARY:Oxford Di-Verse Poetry Festival
DESCRIPTION:Two days of poetry and spoken word workshops and performances\, platforming diverse voices to kick off Transgender Awareness week. \n\n\n\n\n\nJoin us for the Oxford Di-Verse Poetry Festival\, celebrating the powerful voices of marginalized\, oppressed\, and silenced communities. \nThis grassroots\, cooperative festival is organized by Oxford Poetry Library\, Butcher’s Dog Poetry Magazine\, Reconnecting Rainbows Press\, St. Columba’s United Reformed Church\, and Exeter College. \n  \nGet Involved:\nWhether you’re a poet eager to share your work\, a spoken word enthusiast\, or simply someone who loves poetry and performance\, this festival offers a welcoming and safe space for all. \n  \nEvent Highlights: \n  \nSaturday\, November 16: Workshops and Open Mic \n\nAll-day Poetry/Spoken Word Workshops: Immerse yourself in creative writing with two dynamic sessions\, led by Jo Clement\, a poet\, author\, and Creative Writing Tutor at Northumberland University.\nEvening Open Mic: Share your voice or enjoy performances by others in a supportive and inclusive atmosphere.\n\n\nSunday\, November 17: Poetry Brunch and Readings \n\nLazy Brunch: Start your day with a light brunch included in the ticket price.\nFull Day of Poetry and Spoken Word: featuring rising local poets\, students and established voices\, each followed by Q&A sessions and opportunities to connect with the artists.\nAll-Star Evening of Poetry and Spoken Word: featuring nationally acclaimed poets.\n\n\nFestival Mission:\nOxford Di-Verse Poetry Festival is dedicated to exploring intersectionality\, solidarity\, cooperation\, and organization among marginalized and oppressed groups through the medium of poetry and spoken word. The festival emerged from the collective grief of Oxford University transgender students and allies at the 2023 Transgender Day of Remembrance Vigil. This inaugural festival aims to celebrate and platform the diverse voices of minority\, marginalized\, and silenced communities.Join us in celebrating the rich tapestry of voices that make up our diverse community. \n  \n\nFor full details and to register your tickets\, click here.  \n  \nConcessions Available\nWe want this event to be as inclusive as possible\, and money should not be a barrier to you attending. Thanks to sponsorship from Oxford City Council’s Impact Trust Fund\, Oxford Pride and St. Columba’s United Reformed Church\, we are able to offer concessions. \nAnyone on low means who requires a concessionary price is welcome to use the code ODFP50 for a 50% discount on any ticket. \n  \nVolunteers\nIf you would like to volunteer to help at the festival in exchange for a complimentary pass to some events\, contact Phoebe at oxfordpoetrylibrary@gmail.com.
URL:https://oxfordpoetrylibrary.com/event/oxford-di-verse-poetry-festival-2/
LOCATION:Cohen Quad\, Exeter College\, Walton Street\, Oxford\, OX1 2HG
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://oxfordpoetrylibrary.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/di-verse-poster-spotlight-Facebook-Cover.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20241118T193000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20241118T213000
DTSTAMP:20260403T193148
CREATED:20231209T170515Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20231209T170515Z
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SUMMARY:LIT Reading Group- November Online
DESCRIPTION:Got started with poetry but not sure where to go next?  Need some support and feedback for a specific piece of writing that is bugging you right now? Just looking for a friendly\, low-pressure space to hang out and chat with folks who love words as much as you do? \nWhy not join us at LIT? \nWe are a reading and writing group for cis and trans women\, trans men\, non-binary people\, and people of other minority genders to share their own work and the work of others. We take the broadest\, most inclusive interpretation of what this means- if you feel like you might fit with us\, you probably do! \nWe are a group of writers who host twice-monthly friendly sessions around different themes. We meet in person and online. \nFor more information about us\, you can read our statement of aims and values on our group page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/223789834941256 or email francesca_moll@hotmail.co.uk to request to join our WhatsApp group. \nThis is the event for our November online session. There’s no need to book or buy tickets- feel free just to join us on the zoom link here:\nhttps://us06web.zoom.us/j/85006693701?pwd=TzJpeTBRZGdudlBQTlM0OWJQcVZxdz09
URL:https://oxfordpoetrylibrary.com/event/lit-reading-group-november-online-2/
LOCATION:Online
CATEGORIES:Activities To Do,LGBTQAI+,Workshop
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://oxfordpoetrylibrary.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/LIT-group-pic.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20241123T140000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20241123T153000
DTSTAMP:20260403T193148
CREATED:20240712T094219Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20241101T144157Z
UID:7131-1732370400-1732375800@oxfordpoetrylibrary.com
SUMMARY:How to Love the World: A workshop
DESCRIPTION:On any given day\, we have more cause to feel grief\, loss\, despair\, and rage than love. Such is the state of the world. Yet\, if love is one of the last frontiers of humanity\, can we grow to love the world? \nJoin us on November 23rd at 2pm-3.30pm in The Community Works for this exclusive one-off workshop where we will grow poems around loving the world despite everything that is wrong with it. We will look for and create language that can hold our wonder and ecstasy at the ‘bastard beauty’ of the world. \nWe will read and workshop some poems by poets Mark Nepo\, Ross Gay\, William Wordsworth\, Ada Limon\, Linda Gregg\, the Psalmist of Psalm 19\,  and others to explore ways of approaching the world with love in the form of a poem. \nThis workshop will be run by Nikita Arora. Nikita is a poet and writer who often explores human-nonhuman relationships in her work. Her writings have appeared in The Guardian\, Aeon\, Bad Lilies\, BBC Radio 6\, Punjabi Tribune and others. She was longlisted for the Nan Shepherd Prize for Nature Writing. She is also the author of Dakhalandazi\, a Punjabi essay collection on gender-based violence. She is a historian by training and is currently finishing her DPhil in History at Oxford University. \nEntry is free\, but registration is required here. Just bring yourself\, a pen and paper! All other materials will be provided. \nThe Oxford Poetry Library is an accessible space but please do contact us in advance if you have specific requirements. You can email us about this or with any questions about the workshop at oxfordpoetrylibary@gmail.com
URL:https://oxfordpoetrylibrary.com/event/eco-poetics-workshop/
LOCATION:The Community Works\, 21 Park End Street\, Oxford\, OX1 1HH\, United Kingdom
CATEGORIES:Daytime,Workshop
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20241124T130000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20241124T150000
DTSTAMP:20260403T193148
CREATED:20240625T123801Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20241113T121240Z
UID:6991-1732453200-1732460400@oxfordpoetrylibrary.com
SUMMARY:Drafting Table Performance Session
DESCRIPTION:Welcome to Drafting Table\, where we share our emerging poems with each other and provide feedback in a safe and inclusive environment. \nMaybe you have been attending the Getting Started sessions and feel ready to edit your work and develop your ideas. Maybe you’re an experienced but unpublished poet who wants to take those next steps in your poetry career. Just bring a willingness to receive and provide feedback with the whole group! \nOnce a month\, we invite a published poet to join us. There will be a short reading of their poems followed by a workshop where attendees can learn more about the creative process\, get an insight into what it means to be a poet\, and share our work with them. \nThis month’s poet is Ciaran Hodgers. \nCiarán Hodgers (he/him/his) is an Irish spoken word poet based in the UK. His debut poetry collection Cosmocartography\, published by Burning Eye Books in 2018\, was shortlisted for the prestigious Rubery Book Award and toured the UK & Ireland\, featuring in national media on both sides of the pond. Winner of the Sean Dunne National Young Writer Award in 2010\, an International Pangaea Poetry Slam Champion 2015 and the Word War 3 Slam Champion\, he has been shortlisted for the Pushcart Prize\, OutSpoken Prize for Poetry and longlisted for the Not The Foreword and Gingko Eco-poetry competition. \nPublished internationally in journals\, anthologies\, festivals\, exhibitions and curriculum texts\, he is also an experienced workshop leader and creative mentor\, supporting people with their creative practice towards publication and a sustainable\, consistent creativity. \nFeel free to email any queries to opldraftingtable@gmail.com
URL:https://oxfordpoetrylibrary.com/event/drafting-table-performance-session-18/
LOCATION:The Community Works\, 21 Park End Street\, Oxford\, OX1 1HH\, United Kingdom
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://oxfordpoetrylibrary.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/drafting-table-banner.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20241129T113000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20241129T130000
DTSTAMP:20260403T193148
CREATED:20240407T160226Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240407T160226Z
UID:6172-1732879800-1732885200@oxfordpoetrylibrary.com
SUMMARY:The Hip Crowd
DESCRIPTION:Hey! The rumours are true. It’s… \nThe Hip Crowd Open Mic! \n  \nOxford Poetry Library and Makespace Oxford bring you an open mic event especially for folks with babes-in-arms\, but also open to all and everyone. \n  \nIf you’re feeling like daytime is the right time for you to entertain or be entertained\, join us at The Community Works on the last Friday of every month. The action begins at 11.30am\, but performers please do arrive from 11am to sign up for your turn on the stage. \n  \nWe welcome poetry\, music\, storytelling\, comedy and whatever else you think might dazzle in a 5-minute slot \n  \nThe entire event will be baby friendly and baby welcoming\, with lots of floor space at the front\, changing facilities\, buggy parking area outside\, and clear walkways to exit the performance area easily if needed.  There will also be that most beautiful and warmly appreciated of gifts: free tea and coffee provided. \n  \nThe event is non-ticketed\, but costs £5 to spectate (£2 for concessions) and is totally free to performers. Cash only (there are nearby cashpoints)! \n  \nBe there or be square.
URL:https://oxfordpoetrylibrary.com/event/the-hip-crowd-6/
LOCATION:The Community Works\, 21 Park End Street\, Oxford\, OX1 1HH\, United Kingdom
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://oxfordpoetrylibrary.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Screenshot-2024-03-02-at-16.47.19.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20241130T140000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20241130T160000
DTSTAMP:20260403T193148
CREATED:20240712T091720Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20241103T163834Z
UID:7127-1732975200-1732982400@oxfordpoetrylibrary.com
SUMMARY:The Untranslateable in Poetry: a workshop
DESCRIPTION:In your recent holiday abroad\, what’s the foreign phrase that you’ve used or pondered about most? And isn’t it beautiful and mysterious that words like ‘light’ harbour so many meanings? \nJoin us on November 30th at 2pm-4pm in The Community Works for this exclusive one-off workshop where we will respond to writing prompts around traveling and the notions of foreign language(s). By giving new names to familiar objects\, sensations or emotions\, we are opening windows and feeling the breeze\, seeing the world in a new light. \nWe will also revisit some exquisite multilingual poems by poets Zeina Hashem Beck\, Jennifer Lee Tsai\, Natalie Linh Bolderston\, Kostya Tsolakis and more to explore new ways of playing with the different aspects of language(s) in poetry. \nThis workshop will be run by Jennifer Wong. Jennifer is the author of three collections including Letters Home (Nine Arches)\, Identity\, Home and Writing Elsewhere (Bloomsbury Academic) and a pamphlet\, time difference\, by Verve Poetry Press in 2024. She has a creative writing PhD from Oxford Brookes and has taught creative writing. She is working on her next collection. \nRegistration is required and tickets are in a tiered system\, based on what you can afford: £5 for general admission\, £2 concession\, or £10 for those able to give a bit more. The ticket cost shouldn’t be prohibitive to you attending\, so if you are unable to pay\, please email us at oxfordpoetrylibrary@gmail.com and we will do our best to accommodate you. Please register your spot here! \nThe Oxford Poetry Library is an accessible space but please do contact us in advance if you have specific requirements. You can email us about this or with any questions about the workshop at oxfordpoetrylibary@gmail.com
URL:https://oxfordpoetrylibrary.com/event/multilingual-poetry-workshop/
LOCATION:The Community Works\, 21 Park End Street\, Oxford\, OX1 1HH\, United Kingdom
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://oxfordpoetrylibrary.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/image_6487327.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20241203T193000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20241203T220000
DTSTAMP:20260403T193148
CREATED:20240407T161250Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20241108T153412Z
UID:6189-1733254200-1733263200@oxfordpoetrylibrary.com
SUMMARY:This Is Just To Say: spoken word open mic
DESCRIPTION:Oxford Poetry Library presents a spoken word open mic night! Join us in the library on the first Tuesday of every month to enjoy all manner of word-weaving\, story-sharing\, and spell-casting. \nWe welcome poets\, storytellers\, and writers of all kinds to share their work (or the work of others) in a safe\, supportive\, and inclusive space. Slots are 5 minutes long\, and performers sign up on the door – first come\, first served! \nThe theme of this month’s session is CLOSE\, CLOSER. We’ll be getting up close and personal\, so bring your poems that are nice and intimate\, draw us in for the winter night\, and hold us near. \nEvery month we feature a performer with a slightly extended set and this month’s featured performer to grace our stage will be Rency Jumaoas Raquid. Rency was born and raised in Quezon City\, Philippines. Currently based in Oxford\, he is a DPhil student studying plant development and evolution\, and a volunteer at the Oxford Poetry Library. His poem was awarded third prize in the 2023 National Poetry Competition. Recently\, he was selected for a full scholarship to attend the Arvon Foundation’s Advanced Creative Writing Programme. His work has been featured in The Poetry Review\, Winchester Poetry Prize 2024 and OPL’s Drafting Table (kill your darlings) anthologies. \nThe session starts at 7.30pm (performers are advised to arrive from 7pm)\, at The Community Works (21 Park End St\, OX1 1HU). \n£5 entry (£2 concessions)\, performers free. \nThere will be a bar at this event\, so it is no longer BYOB! \nThe building is accessible\, but if you have any specific access needs\, please drop us an email at oxfordpoetrylibrary@gmail.com beforehand!
URL:https://oxfordpoetrylibrary.com/event/this-is-just-to-say-spoken-word-open-mic-24/
LOCATION:The Community Works\, 21 Park End Street\, Oxford\, OX1 1HH\, United Kingdom
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://oxfordpoetrylibrary.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/this-is-just-to-say-flyer-e1653772097543.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20241205T193000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20241205T213000
DTSTAMP:20260403T193148
CREATED:20240816T113202Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20241011T152228Z
UID:7497-1733427000-1733434200@oxfordpoetrylibrary.com
SUMMARY:An Evening of Poetry with Carrie Etter\, Harry Man\, Claire Crowther and Jenny Lewis
DESCRIPTION:On 5 December at 7.30pm in The Community Works\, we welcome 4 excellent local poets to showcase their newest publications! \nWarm up with an enticing evening of new and recent poetry featuring Oxford book launches and readings from – Real Lear: New and Selected Poems (Shearsman\, 2024) by Claire Crowther\, Popular Song (Nine Arches Press\, 2024) by Harry Man\, Grief’s Alphabet (Seren\, 2024) by Carrie Etter and From Base Materials (Carcanet 2024) by Jenny Lewis. \nTickets are £5 each (£2 concessions) and all proceeds go to Oxford Poetry Library. Get yours in advance here to avoid disappointment! \nClaire Crowther’s sixth collection is Real Lear New & Selected Poems. Her first collection was shortlisted for the Aldeburgh Prize and her fourth was a Poetry Book Society Recommendation in 2020. She teaches Creative Writing at Oxford University Department of Continuing Education and is Deputy Editor of Long Poem Magazine.  \nCarrie Etter has published five collections of poetry\, most recently Grief’s Alphabet (Seren\, 2024). Individual poems have appeared in The New Republic\, The New Statesman\, The Penguin Book of the Prose Poem\, Poetry Review\, and The TLS. She edited Infinite Difference: Other Poetries by UK Women Poets (Shearsman\, 2010)\, Linda Lamus’s posthumous collection\, A Crater the Size of Calcutta (Mulfran\, 2015)\, and Claire Crowther’s Sense and Nonsense: Essays and Interviews (Shearsman\, 2024). She also writes essays\, fiction\, and reviews\, and is a member of the creative writing faculty at the University of Bristol. \nJenny Lewis has published five collections including Gilgamesh Retold (Carcanet\, 2018) which was a New Statesman Book of the Year and Carcanet’s first audiobook. She has collaborated for 10 years with the exiled Iraqi poet Adnan Al-Sayegh on the award-winning\, Arts Council-funded ‘Writing Mesopotamia’ project aimed at fostering friendships between English and Arabic-speaking communities. Her recent work includes From Base Materials (Carcanet\, 2024) and a sequence of ecological poems for Mandala Theatre Company’s Seed Guardians. She teaches on the Oxford University Creative Writing MSt. www.jennylewis.org.uk \nHarry Man’s Lift (Tall Lighthouse\, 2014) won the UNESCO Bridges of Struga Award. His second pamphlet\, Finders Keepers\, was shortlisted for the Ted Hughes Award for New Work in Poetry. His co-collection\, authored with Endre Ruset\, Deretter(‘Thereafter’\, Flamme Forlag\, 2021) won the Stephen Spender Prize and was a Dagblaget and Broken Sleep Books Book of the Year. He was shortlisted for Tees Valley Artist of the Year 2024. His first collection Popular Song (2024) is published by Nine Arches Press. He has translated Endre Ruset’s poetry collection Noriaki into English which is available from Broken Sleep Books. He is the Royal Literary Fund Fellow at Newcastle University and lives in County Durham. www.manmadebooks.co.uk \n  \nThe building is accessible\, but if you have any specific access needs\, please drop us an email at oxfordpoetrylibrary@gmail.com beforehand.
URL:https://oxfordpoetrylibrary.com/event/jenny-lewis-book-launch/
LOCATION:The Community Works\, 21 Park End Street\, Oxford\, OX1 1HH\, United Kingdom
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://oxfordpoetrylibrary.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/unnamed.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20241207T130000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20241207T150000
DTSTAMP:20260403T193148
CREATED:20240625T122307Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240920T161242Z
UID:6966-1733576400-1733583600@oxfordpoetrylibrary.com
SUMMARY:Drafting Table Workshop Session
DESCRIPTION:Welcome to our poetry drafting group\, where we share our emerging poems with each other and provide feedback in a safe and inclusive environment. \nMaybe you have been attending the Getting Started sessions and feel ready to edit your work and develop your ideas. Maybe you’re an experienced but unpublished poet who wants to take those next steps in your poetry career. If you feel you’d like to join us\, please bring along at least one unfinished\, unpublished work-in-progress that you’re willing to share with the whole group. We are normally able to hear and give feedback to around 6 or 7 poets per session. \nRegular attendance is encouraged\, to help us build a trusting and collaborative community. \nFeel free to email queries to opldraftingtable@gmail.com \nWe meet: \n1-3pm \nFirst Saturday of every month at The Community Works\n \n21 Park End Street OX1 1HH
URL:https://oxfordpoetrylibrary.com/event/drafting-table-workshop-session-22/
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://oxfordpoetrylibrary.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/drafting-table-banner.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20241209T190000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20241209T203000
DTSTAMP:20260403T193148
CREATED:20240407T155038Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240407T155038Z
UID:6149-1733770800-1733776200@oxfordpoetrylibrary.com
SUMMARY:Getting Started With Poetry
DESCRIPTION:Whether you’ve never written a poem before\, have just started to write\, or aren’t sure if what you’re writing is poetry\, this monthly workshop is a chance to carve out some time for writing. \nIn each workshop\, we’ll read a poem together\, and use it as our starting point. We’ll suggest some prompts you could take from the poem\, and ideas you might like to borrow. There will be plenty of time to write\, and plenty more prompts if you get stuck. At the end of the session\, you’ll be able to share what you’ve written in a supportive environment. \nAll you need to bring is yourself – these workshops are here for you to enjoy writing and build confidence in your voice. The workshop is open to anyone aged 16+. \nTell us you’re coming by booking your free ticket here. \nThe Oxford Poetry Library is an accessible space but please do contact us in advance if you have specific requirements. You can email us about this or with any questions about the workshop at oxfordpoetrylibary@gmail.com
URL:https://oxfordpoetrylibrary.com/event/getting-started-with-poetry-23/
LOCATION:The Community Works\, 21 Park End Street\, Oxford\, OX1 1HH\, United Kingdom
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://oxfordpoetrylibrary.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Event-Cover.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20241214T140000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20241214T160000
DTSTAMP:20260403T193148
CREATED:20240419T162830Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240802T140550Z
UID:6299-1734184800-1734192000@oxfordpoetrylibrary.com
SUMMARY:The Shape of Poetry workshop
DESCRIPTION:Note that until further notice\, these sessions will happen online – links to the Zoom session will be circulated to those who have registered in advance of these events. \nMany of us feel intimidated by formal poetry: Some of us consider it too restrictive and governed by rules\, while others write exclusively in form. This workshop is an invitation to all writers of poetry\, whether you’re just starting out or have been writing for years\, to explore the creative potential of poetic forms. \nOur monthly sessions happen on the second Saturday of the month from 2pm til 4pm online. During each of our workshops\, we will look at the conventions of a particular form such as the sonnet\, ghazal\, or haiku\, read example poems\, and write our own versions. This workshop will be a collaborative space for us to explore how experimenting with limitations or restrictions in our writing can give us whole new ways of expressing ourselves\, and open unexpected doors! Whether you’ve never written a poem before\, have just started to write\, or aren’t sure if what you’re writing is poetry\, this monthly workshop is a chance to carve out some time for writing. \nIn each workshop\, we’ll read a poem together\, and use it as our starting point. We’ll suggest some prompts you could take from the poem\, and ideas you might like to borrow. There will be plenty of time to write\, and plenty more prompts if you get stuck. At the end of the session\, you’ll be able to share what you’ve written in a supportive environment. \nAll you need to bring is yourself – these workshops are here for you to enjoy writing and build confidence in your voice. The workshop is open to anyone aged 16+. \nTickets are priced at £5 for general admission (£10 for those able to donate a bit more\, £2 for those on lower income) and registration is required. If this cost would be prohibitive to your attending\, please email us at oxfordpoetrylibrary@gmail.com and we can allocate you one of our limited free spots in the workshop. \n 
URL:https://oxfordpoetrylibrary.com/event/the-shape-of-poetry-workshop-8/
LOCATION:Online
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://oxfordpoetrylibrary.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Shape-of-Poetry-flyer.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20241216T193000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20241216T213000
DTSTAMP:20260403T193148
CREATED:20231209T170642Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20231209T170642Z
UID:5064-1734377400-1734384600@oxfordpoetrylibrary.com
SUMMARY:LIT Reading Group- December Online
DESCRIPTION:Got started with poetry but not sure where to go next?  Need some support and feedback for a specific piece of writing that is bugging you right now? Just looking for a friendly\, low-pressure space to hang out and chat with folks who love words as much as you do? \nWhy not join us at LIT? \nWe are a reading and writing group for cis and trans women\, trans men\, non-binary people\, and people of other minority genders to share their own work and the work of others. We take the broadest\, most inclusive interpretation of what this means- if you feel like you might fit with us\, you probably do! \nWe are a group of writers who host twice-monthly friendly sessions around different themes. We meet in person and online. \nFor more information about us\, you can read our statement of aims and values on our group page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/223789834941256 or email francesca_moll@hotmail.co.uk to request to join our WhatsApp group. \nThis is the event for our December online session. There’s no need to book or buy tickets- feel free just to join us on the zoom link here:\nhttps://us06web.zoom.us/j/85006693701?pwd=TzJpeTBRZGdudlBQTlM0OWJQcVZxdz09
URL:https://oxfordpoetrylibrary.com/event/lit-reading-group-december-online-2/
LOCATION:Online
CATEGORIES:Activities To Do,LGBTQAI+,Workshop
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://oxfordpoetrylibrary.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/LIT-group-pic.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20250107T193000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20250107T220000
DTSTAMP:20260403T193148
CREATED:20240407T161347Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20241213T161059Z
UID:6192-1736278200-1736287200@oxfordpoetrylibrary.com
SUMMARY:This Is Just To Say: spoken word open mic
DESCRIPTION:Oxford Poetry Library presents a spoken word open mic night! Join us in the library on the first Tuesday of every month to enjoy all manner of word-weaving\, story-sharing\, and spell-casting. \nWe welcome poets\, storytellers\, and writers of all kinds to share their work (or the work of others) in a safe\, supportive\, and inclusive space. Slots are 5 minutes long\, and performers sign up on the door – first come\, first served! \nThe theme for this month is MY BODY IS…. Let’s get physical – is your body a temple? an encumbrance? a political statement? a place to live? a work of art? a squishy water-bed of fleshy tissue? Let us know. \nEvery month we feature a performer with a slightly extended set and this month’s featured performer to grace our stage is Wendy Allen. Wendy’s debut pamphlet\, Plastic Tubed Little Bird\, was published by Broken Sleep in 2023. She has collaborated with Charley Barnes on freebleeding (Broken Sleep\, 2024) and with Galia Admoni on i get lost everywhere\, you know this now (Salo Press\, 2024). Wendy’s latest pamphlet\, Portrait in Mustard\, was published by Seren in October 2024. She is a PhD researcher at MMU. \nThe session starts at 7.30pm (performers are advised to arrive around 7pm)\, at The Community Works (21 Park End St\, OX1 1HU). \n£5 entry (£2 concessions)\, performers free. \nThere will be a bar at this event\, so it is no longer BYOB! \nThe building is accessible\, but if you have any specific access needs\, please drop us an email at oxfordpoetrylibrary@gmail.com beforehand!
URL:https://oxfordpoetrylibrary.com/event/this-is-just-to-say-spoken-word-open-mic-25/
LOCATION:The Community Works\, 21 Park End Street\, Oxford\, OX1 1HH\, United Kingdom
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://oxfordpoetrylibrary.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/this-is-just-to-say-flyer-e1653772097543.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20250111T140000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20250111T160000
DTSTAMP:20260403T193148
CREATED:20241209T140433Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20241209T144559Z
UID:8593-1736604000-1736611200@oxfordpoetrylibrary.com
SUMMARY:The Shape of Poetry
DESCRIPTION:Note that these sessions will alternate between online and in-person – links to the Zoom sessions will be circulated to those who have registered in advance of these events. This month’s session will take place online. \nMany of us feel intimidated by formal poetry: Some of us consider it too restrictive and governed by rules\, while others write exclusively in form. This workshop is an invitation to all writers of poetry\, whether you’re just starting out or have been writing for years\, to explore the creative potential of poetic forms. \nOur monthly sessions happen on the second Saturday of the month from 2pm til 4pm. During each of our workshops\, we will look at the conventions of a particular form such as the sonnet\, ghazal\, or haiku\, read example poems\, and write our own versions. This workshop will be a collaborative space for us to explore how experimenting with limitations or restrictions in our writing can give us whole new ways of expressing ourselves\, and open unexpected doors! Whether you’ve never written a poem before\, have just started to write\, or aren’t sure if what you’re writing is poetry\, this monthly workshop is a chance to carve out some time for writing. \nIn each workshop\, we’ll read a poem together\, and use it as our starting point. We’ll suggest some prompts you could take from the poem\, and ideas you might like to borrow. There will be plenty of time to write\, and plenty more prompts if you get stuck. At the end of the session\, you’ll be able to share what you’ve written in a supportive environment. \nAll you need to bring is yourself – these workshops are here for you to enjoy writing and build confidence in your voice. The workshop is open to anyone aged 16+. \nTickets are priced at £5 for general admission (£10 for those able to donate a bit more\, £2 for those on lower income) and registration is required. If this cost would be prohibitive to your attending\, please email us at oxfordpoetrylibrary@gmail.com and we can allocate you one of our limited free spots in the workshop.
URL:https://oxfordpoetrylibrary.com/event/the-shape-of-poetry-workshop-9/
LOCATION:Online
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://oxfordpoetrylibrary.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/IN-PERSON-Shape-of-Poetry-flyer.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20250113T190000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20250113T203000
DTSTAMP:20260403T193148
CREATED:20240407T155142Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240407T155142Z
UID:6151-1736794800-1736800200@oxfordpoetrylibrary.com
SUMMARY:Getting Started With Poetry
DESCRIPTION:Whether you’ve never written a poem before\, have just started to write\, or aren’t sure if what you’re writing is poetry\, this monthly workshop is a chance to carve out some time for writing. \nIn each workshop\, we’ll read a poem together\, and use it as our starting point. We’ll suggest some prompts you could take from the poem\, and ideas you might like to borrow. There will be plenty of time to write\, and plenty more prompts if you get stuck. At the end of the session\, you’ll be able to share what you’ve written in a supportive environment. \nAll you need to bring is yourself – these workshops are here for you to enjoy writing and build confidence in your voice. The workshop is open to anyone aged 16+. \nTell us you’re coming by booking your free ticket here. \nThe Oxford Poetry Library is an accessible space but please do contact us in advance if you have specific requirements. You can email us about this or with any questions about the workshop at oxfordpoetrylibary@gmail.com
URL:https://oxfordpoetrylibrary.com/event/getting-started-with-poetry-24/
LOCATION:The Community Works\, 21 Park End Street\, Oxford\, OX1 1HH\, United Kingdom
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://oxfordpoetrylibrary.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Event-Cover.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20250117T133000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20250117T153000
DTSTAMP:20260403T193148
CREATED:20250108T110137Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250108T110137Z
UID:8666-1737120600-1737127800@oxfordpoetrylibrary.com
SUMMARY:Write Space
DESCRIPTION:What is it?\nFrom 2025\, Friday opening hours at the Library are making way for Write Space\, a new pop-up place for you to work on your creative writing projects in the company of other local writers. For two hours every other Friday\, come and write with us in a friendly low-key environment. \nWhen is it?\n1.30-3.30pm Every other Friday\, January-March 2025 (and hopefully beyond!) \nWhere is it?\nThe event space at the Community Works\, Park End Street. \nWho is it for?\nWriting can be a lonely business and sometimes it can be hard to protect time for yourself to write when life weighs in. Write Space is for anyone writing creatively (poetry\, fiction\, drama\, creative non-fiction…) who would value this space. Write Space is facilitated by OPL volunteers. \nHow do I take part?\nSave your spot by registering via the link below.\n(We’re asking everyone to pre-book during our pilot phase so we can plan well and make sure there’s plenty of space for all.) \nDo I have to come for the whole time?\nWe’ll start with a gentle writer’s warm-up then we’ll work in peace on our projects. We’ll take a short break before a second block of writing. If you arrive between those times\, you’re welcome to settle in quietly – we’ll look forward to chatting to you in the break! \nWhat should I bring?\nBring what you’re working on and what you like to write on/ with. Bring your own drink or buy one at Lula’s.  \nCan I bring my kids/ pets/ friends?\nGreat question! We are exploring setting up a Write Space special edition with space for babies but for now it’s for (human) adults. Friends are welcome – make sure they book themselves a spot!
URL:https://oxfordpoetrylibrary.com/event/write-space/
LOCATION:The Community Works\, 21 Park End Street\, Oxford\, OX1 1HH\, United Kingdom
CATEGORIES:Arts & Crafts,Workshop
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://oxfordpoetrylibrary.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/screengrab-Write-Space-cropped.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20250118T140000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20250118T160000
DTSTAMP:20260403T193148
CREATED:20241115T141507Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250118T130540Z
UID:8215-1737208800-1737216000@oxfordpoetrylibrary.com
SUMMARY:The Reading Circle
DESCRIPTION:People who never read poetry don’t write poems that are worth reading – Wendy Cope \n  \nIf you’re keen to find a way in to reading and appreciating poetry\, discover new writing\, and open your mind to the world of poetry\, welcome to The Reading Circle. \nCome to OPL’s poetry reading group where we’ll share and discuss poems written in the 20th and 21st centuries in a relaxed and inclusive peer-led environment. \n  \nQuestions we’ll be asking include: \nWhat makes a poem ‘work’?  \nWhy do we like a poem? Why don’t we?  \nIs there such a thing as a fashionable poem? Does it matter?  \nCan we love a poem we don’t fully understand? What makes mystery different to obscurity?  \nWhat might we learn from other poets that can help us enrich our own craft?  \n  \nThe Reading Circle meets on the third Saturday of each month\, 2-4 pm in The Community Works. We suggest a donation to attend each session: £5 for general admission (£10 for those able to donate a bit more) and registration is required here. Donations are optional and shouldn’t be prohibitive to you attending\, but all proceeds go to the running costs of the Oxford Poetry Library and our ability to continue providing these sorts of sessions. \nFacilitated by the established writers and prolific readers Alan Buckley and Carl Tomlinson. \nThe building is accessible\, but if you have any specific access needs\, please drop us an email at oxfordpoetrylibrary@gmail.com beforehand.
URL:https://oxfordpoetrylibrary.com/event/the-reading-circle-10/
LOCATION:The Community Works\, 21 Park End Street\, Oxford\, OX1 1HH\, United Kingdom
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://oxfordpoetrylibrary.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Reading-Circle-version-2.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20250119T120000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20250119T150000
DTSTAMP:20260403T193148
CREATED:20241122T163200Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20241213T164534Z
UID:8364-1737288000-1737298800@oxfordpoetrylibrary.com
SUMMARY:Family Sunday and Storytelling
DESCRIPTION:Join us on the 3rd Sunday of every month\, where The Community Works will be open for Family Sunday! The library will be open for browsing\, borrowing\, or just hanging out to read\, write\, and relax. Lula’s Ethiopian Cuisine will be open for an affordable all-you-can-eat buffet\, and we will provide a safe\, inclusive space for food\, fun\, and play. \nAll are welcome to The Community Works between 12pm and 3pm to drop in for free – we’ll have books for young and old\, poetry games and activities\, and as always\, our friendly and welcoming librarian volunteers. \nTo celebrate the first of these Sunday openings on 19 January\, storyteller and children’s book writer Ed Boxall will be joining us from 1pm for a performance of the heartwarming English folktale\, “The Warm Glow”\, along with a cosy selection of his songs and poems. All welcome\, no need to book\, and the session is completely free…but there’s a £10 optional donation which includes a signed book from Ed! \n \n 
URL:https://oxfordpoetrylibrary.com/event/the-community-works-community-day/
LOCATION:The Community Works\, 21 Park End Street\, Oxford\, OX1 1HH\, United Kingdom
CATEGORIES:Community Event,Family Friendly
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://oxfordpoetrylibrary.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Warm-Glow-Promo-SQUARE.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20250120T193000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20250120T213000
DTSTAMP:20260403T193148
CREATED:20250102T154352Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250102T161258Z
UID:8862-1737401400-1737408600@oxfordpoetrylibrary.com
SUMMARY:LIT reading group- January Session
DESCRIPTION:Got started with poetry but not sure where to go next?  Need some support and feedback for a specific piece of writing that is bugging you right now? Just looking for a friendly\, low-pressure space to hang out and chat with folks who love words as much as you do? \nWhy not join us at LIT? \nWe are a reading and writing group for cis and trans women\, trans men\, non-binary people\, and people of other minority genders to share their own work and the work of others. We take the broadest\, most inclusive interpretation of what this means- if you feel like you might fit with us\, you probably do! \nWe are a group of writers who host monthly friendly sessions around different themes. We meet in person and online. \nFor more information about us\, you can read our statement of aims and values on our group page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/223789834941256 or email francesca_moll@hotmail.co.uk to request to join our WhatsApp group. \nThis is the event for our January online session. There’s no need to book or buy tickets- feel free just to join us on the zoom link here:\nhttps://us06web.zoom.us/j/85006693701?pwd=TzJpeTBRZGdudlBQTlM0OWJQcVZxdz09
URL:https://oxfordpoetrylibrary.com/event/lit-reading-group-january-session/
CATEGORIES:Activities To Do,LGBTQAI+,online
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://oxfordpoetrylibrary.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/LIT-group-pic.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20250126T130000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20250126T150000
DTSTAMP:20260403T193148
CREATED:20240625T123910Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250110T134744Z
UID:6993-1737896400-1737903600@oxfordpoetrylibrary.com
SUMMARY:Drafting Table Peformance Session
DESCRIPTION:Welcome to Drafting Table\, where we share our emerging poems with each other and provide feedback in a safe and inclusive environment. \nMaybe you have been attending the Getting Started sessions and feel ready to edit your work and develop your ideas. Maybe you’re an experienced but unpublished poet who wants to take those next steps in your poetry career. Just bring a willingness to receive and provide feedback with the whole group! \nOnce a month\, we invite a published poet to join us. There will be a short reading of their poems followed by a workshop where attendees can learn more about the creative process\, get an insight into what it means to be a poet\, and share our work with them. \nThis month’s poet is legend of Welsh poetry Gwyneth Lewis. Check out Gwyneth’s website for more of her accolades. \nPLEASE NOTE: due to high demand\, this session is ticketed (but still free!) Please book via eventbrite here. \n  \nFeel free to email any queries to opldraftingtable@gmail.com
URL:https://oxfordpoetrylibrary.com/event/drafting-table-peformance-session/
LOCATION:The Community Works\, 21 Park End Street\, Oxford\, OX1 1HH\, United Kingdom
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://oxfordpoetrylibrary.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/drafting-table-banner.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20250131T113000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20250131T130000
DTSTAMP:20260403T193148
CREATED:20241115T165653Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20241115T165653Z
UID:8261-1738323000-1738328400@oxfordpoetrylibrary.com
SUMMARY:The Hip Crowd open mic
DESCRIPTION:Hey! The rumours are true. It’s… \nThe Hip Crowd Open Mic! \n\nOxford Poetry Library and Makespace Oxford bring you an open mic event especially for folks with babes-in-arms\, but also open to all and everyone. \nIf you’re feeling like daytime is the right time for you to entertain or be entertained\, join us at The Community Works on the last Friday of every month. The action begins at 11.30am\, but performers please do arrive from 11am to sign up for your turn on the stage. \nWe welcome poetry\, music\, storytelling\, comedy and whatever else you think might dazzle in a 5-minute slot \nThe entire event will be baby friendly and baby welcoming\, with lots of floor space at the front\, changing facilities\, buggy parking area outside\, and clear walkways to exit the performance area easily if needed.  There will also be that most beautiful and warmly appreciated of gifts: free tea and coffee provided. \nThe event is non-ticketed\, but costs £5 to spectate (£2 for concessions) and is totally free to performers. Cash only (there are nearby cashpoints)! \nBe there or be square.
URL:https://oxfordpoetrylibrary.com/event/the-hip-crowd-open-mic-5/
LOCATION:The Community Works\, 21 Park End Street\, Oxford\, OX1 1HH\, United Kingdom
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://oxfordpoetrylibrary.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Screenshot-2024-03-02-at-16.47.19.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20250131T133000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20250131T153000
DTSTAMP:20260403T193148
CREATED:20250108T110228Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250108T110336Z
UID:8950-1738330200-1738337400@oxfordpoetrylibrary.com
SUMMARY:Write Space
DESCRIPTION:What is it?\nFrom 2025\, Friday opening hours at the Library are making way for Write Space\, a new pop-up place for you to work on your creative writing projects in the company of other local writers. For two hours every other Friday\, come and write with us in a friendly low-key environment. \nWhen is it?\n1.30-3.30pm Every other Friday\, January-March 2025 (and hopefully beyond!) \nWhere is it?\nThe event space at the Community Works\, Park End Street. \nWho is it for?\nWriting can be a lonely business and sometimes it can be hard to protect time for yourself to write when life weighs in. Write Space is for anyone writing creatively (poetry\, fiction\, drama\, creative non-fiction…) who would value this space. Write Space is facilitated by OPL volunteers. \nHow do I take part?\nSave your spot by registering via the link below.\n(We’re asking everyone to pre-book during our pilot phase so we can plan well and make sure there’s plenty of space for all.) \nDo I have to come for the whole time?\nWe’ll start with a gentle writer’s warm-up then we’ll work in peace on our projects. We’ll take a short break before a second block of writing. If you arrive between those times\, you’re welcome to settle in quietly – we’ll look forward to chatting to you in the break! \nWhat should I bring?\nBring what you’re working on and what you like to write on/ with. Bring your own drink or buy one at Lula’s.  \nCan I bring my kids/ pets/ friends?\nGreat question! We are exploring setting up a Write Space special edition with space for babies but for now it’s for (human) adults. Friends are welcome – make sure they book themselves a spot!
URL:https://oxfordpoetrylibrary.com/event/write-space-2/
LOCATION:The Community Works\, 21 Park End Street\, Oxford\, OX1 1HH\, United Kingdom
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://oxfordpoetrylibrary.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/screengrab-Write-Space-cropped.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20250201T130000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20250201T150000
DTSTAMP:20260403T193148
CREATED:20240625T122353Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240625T122353Z
UID:6969-1738414800-1738422000@oxfordpoetrylibrary.com
SUMMARY:Drafting Table Workshop Session
DESCRIPTION:Welcome to our poetry drafting group\, where we share our emerging poems with each other and provide feedback in a safe and inclusive environment. \nMaybe you have been attending the Getting Started sessions and feel ready to edit your work and develop your ideas. Maybe you’re an experienced but unpublished poet who wants to take those next steps in your poetry career. If you feel you’d like to join us\, please bring along at least one unfinished\, unpublished work-in-progress that you’re willing to share with the whole group. We are normally able to hear and give feedback to around 6 or 7 poets per session. \nRegular attendance is encouraged\, to help us build a trusting and collaborative community. \nFeel free to email queries to opldraftingtable@gmail.com \nWe meet: \n1-3pm \nFirst Saturday of every month at The Community Works\n \n21 Park End Street OX1 1HH
URL:https://oxfordpoetrylibrary.com/event/drafting-table-workshop-session-23/
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://oxfordpoetrylibrary.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/drafting-table-banner.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20250204T193000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20250204T220000
DTSTAMP:20260403T193148
CREATED:20241115T164429Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250124T130013Z
UID:8233-1738697400-1738706400@oxfordpoetrylibrary.com
SUMMARY:This Is Just to Say: spoken word open mic
DESCRIPTION:Oxford Poetry Library presents a spoken word open mic night! Join us in the library on the first Tuesday of every month to enjoy all manner of word-weaving\, story-sharing\, and spell-casting. \nWe welcome poets\, storytellers\, and writers of all kinds to share their work (or the work of others) in a safe\, supportive\, and inclusive space. Slots are 2-3 minutes long\, and performers sign up on the door – first come\, first served and slots fill up quickly so we recommend arriving in good time for 7pm! \nAt OPL we want everyone to feel comfortable and has space to enjoy the night. That’s why we have a few basic guidelines that we ask everyone to follow: \n\nPlease refrain from using discriminatory language\, harmful content or excessive profanity in your performance. If you are unsure about your performance\, speak to the host when you arrive.\nYou should aim to read something that’s around one page or two minutes – this ensures that everyone has enough time to read.\n\nThe theme for this month’s session is WHERE I STAND. We invite you to explore the ground beneath your feet and how you got there. Take us on your journey! \nEvery month we feature a performer with a slightly extended set and this month’s featured performer to grace our stage will be Carl Tomlinson. Carl lives on a smallholding in rural Oxfordshire. His poems have appeared in Orbis\, South\, The Alchemy Spoon\, The Hope Valley Journal\, Spelt\, and several anthologies. In 2019 his poem Market Forces won the Shout out for the Oxford Covered Market competition\, and now forms part of the market’s audio guide. Carl’s debut pamphlet Changing Places was published in 2021 by Fair Acre Press. Helen Mort says of it that it ‘challenge[s] us to move beyond a naïve appreciation of the ‘natural’ and recognise the ways that our landscapes have been profoundly altered by human presence’. \nThe session starts at 7.30pm (performers are advised to arrive from 7pm)\, at The Community Works (21 Park End St\, OX1 1HU). \n£5 entry (£2 concessions)\, performers free. \nThe building is accessible\, but if you have any specific access needs\, please drop us an email at oxfordpoetrylibrary@gmail.com beforehand!
URL:https://oxfordpoetrylibrary.com/event/this-is-just-to-say-spoken-word-open-mic-26/
LOCATION:The Community Works\, 21 Park End Street\, Oxford\, OX1 1HH\, United Kingdom
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://oxfordpoetrylibrary.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/this-is-just-to-say-flyer-no-byob.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20250208T140000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20250208T160000
DTSTAMP:20260403T193148
CREATED:20241115T161857Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250130T073739Z
UID:8226-1739023200-1739030400@oxfordpoetrylibrary.com
SUMMARY:The Shape of Poetry
DESCRIPTION:Note that these sessions will now happen online – links to the Zoom sessions will be circulated to those who have registered in advance of these events.\n \nMany of us feel intimidated by formal poetry: Some of us consider it too restrictive and governed by rules\, while others write exclusively in form. This workshop is an invitation to all writers of poetry\, whether you’re just starting out or have been writing for years\, to explore the creative potential of poetic forms. \nOur monthly sessions happen on the second Saturday of the month from 2pm til 4pm\, online. During each of our workshops\, we will look at the conventions of a particular form such as the sonnet\, ghazal\, or haiku\, read example poems\, and write our own versions. This workshop will be a collaborative space for us to explore how experimenting with limitations or restrictions in our writing can give us whole new ways of expressing ourselves\, and open unexpected doors! Whether you’ve never written a poem before\, have just started to write\, or aren’t sure if what you’re writing is poetry\, this monthly workshop is a chance to carve out some time for writing. \nIn each workshop\, we’ll read a poem together\, and use it as our starting point. We’ll suggest some prompts you could take from the poem\, and ideas you might like to borrow. There will be plenty of time to write\, and plenty more prompts if you get stuck. At the end of the session\, you’ll be able to share what you’ve written in a supportive environment. \nAll you need to bring is yourself – these workshops are here for you to enjoy writing and build confidence in your voice. The workshop is open to anyone aged 16+. \nTickets are priced at £5 for general admission (£10 for those able to donate a bit more\, £2 for those on lower income) and registration is required. If this cost would be prohibitive to your attending\, please email us at oxfordpoetrylibrary@gmail.com and we can allocate you one of our limited free spots in the workshop.
URL:https://oxfordpoetrylibrary.com/event/the-shape-of-poetry-2/
LOCATION:Online
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://oxfordpoetrylibrary.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/IN-PERSON-Shape-of-Poetry-flyer.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20250210T190000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20250210T203000
DTSTAMP:20260403T193148
CREATED:20240407T155240Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240407T155240Z
UID:6154-1739214000-1739219400@oxfordpoetrylibrary.com
SUMMARY:Getting Started With Poetry
DESCRIPTION:Whether you’ve never written a poem before\, have just started to write\, or aren’t sure if what you’re writing is poetry\, this monthly workshop is a chance to carve out some time for writing. \nIn each workshop\, we’ll read a poem together\, and use it as our starting point. We’ll suggest some prompts you could take from the poem\, and ideas you might like to borrow. There will be plenty of time to write\, and plenty more prompts if you get stuck. At the end of the session\, you’ll be able to share what you’ve written in a supportive environment. \nAll you need to bring is yourself – these workshops are here for you to enjoy writing and build confidence in your voice. The workshop is open to anyone aged 16+. \nTell us you’re coming by booking your free ticket here. \nThe Oxford Poetry Library is an accessible space but please do contact us in advance if you have specific requirements. You can email us about this or with any questions about the workshop at oxfordpoetrylibary@gmail.com
URL:https://oxfordpoetrylibrary.com/event/getting-started-with-poetry-25/
LOCATION:The Community Works\, 21 Park End Street\, Oxford\, OX1 1HH\, United Kingdom
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://oxfordpoetrylibrary.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Event-Cover.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20250214T133000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20250214T153000
DTSTAMP:20260403T193148
CREATED:20250108T110239Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250108T110347Z
UID:8951-1739539800-1739547000@oxfordpoetrylibrary.com
SUMMARY:Write Space
DESCRIPTION:What is it?\nFrom 2025\, Friday opening hours at the Library are making way for Write Space\, a new pop-up place for you to work on your creative writing projects in the company of other local writers. For two hours every other Friday\, come and write with us in a friendly low-key environment. \nWhen is it?\n1.30-3.30pm Every other Friday\, January-March 2025 (and hopefully beyond!) \nWhere is it?\nThe event space at the Community Works\, Park End Street. \nWho is it for?\nWriting can be a lonely business and sometimes it can be hard to protect time for yourself to write when life weighs in. Write Space is for anyone writing creatively (poetry\, fiction\, drama\, creative non-fiction…) who would value this space. Write Space is facilitated by OPL volunteers. \nHow do I take part?\nSave your spot by registering via the link below.\n(We’re asking everyone to pre-book during our pilot phase so we can plan well and make sure there’s plenty of space for all.) \nDo I have to come for the whole time?\nWe’ll start with a gentle writer’s warm-up then we’ll work in peace on our projects. We’ll take a short break before a second block of writing. If you arrive between those times\, you’re welcome to settle in quietly – we’ll look forward to chatting to you in the break! \nWhat should I bring?\nBring what you’re working on and what you like to write on/ with. Bring your own drink or buy one at Lula’s.  \nCan I bring my kids/ pets/ friends?\nGreat question! We are exploring setting up a Write Space special edition with space for babies but for now it’s for (human) adults. Friends are welcome – make sure they book themselves a spot!
URL:https://oxfordpoetrylibrary.com/event/write-space-3/
LOCATION:The Community Works\, 21 Park End Street\, Oxford\, OX1 1HH\, United Kingdom
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://oxfordpoetrylibrary.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/screengrab-Write-Space-cropped.png
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DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20250215T140000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20250215T160000
DTSTAMP:20260403T193148
CREATED:20241220T145101Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250119T105721Z
UID:8749-1739628000-1739635200@oxfordpoetrylibrary.com
SUMMARY:The Reading Circle
DESCRIPTION:People who never read poetry don’t write poems that are worth reading – Wendy Cope \n  \nIf you’re keen to find a way in to reading and appreciating poetry\, discover new writing\, and open your mind to the world of poetry\, welcome to The Reading Circle. Come to OPL’s poetry reading group where we’ll share and discuss poems written in the 20th and 21st centuries in a relaxed and inclusive peer-led environment. \n  \nQuestions we’ll be asking include: \nWhat makes a poem ‘work’?  \nWhy do we like a poem? Why don’t we?  \nIs there such a thing as a fashionable poem? Does it matter?  \nCan we love a poem we don’t fully understand? What makes mystery different to obscurity?  \nWhat might we learn from other poets that can help us enrich our own craft? \n  \nThe Reading Circle meets on the third Saturday of each month\, 2-4 pm in The Community Works. \nWe suggest a donation to attend each session: £5 for general admission (£10 for those able to donate a bit more) and registration is required here. Donations are optional and shouldn’t be prohibitive to you attending\, but all proceeds go to the running costs of the Oxford Poetry Library and our ability to continue providing these sorts of sessions. \nThis month’s group will be facilitated by the established writers (and prolific readers) Alan Buckley and Vanessa Lampert. \n  \nThe building is accessible\, but if you have any specific access needs\, please drop us an email at oxfordpoetrylibrary@gmail.com beforehand.
URL:https://oxfordpoetrylibrary.com/event/the-reading-circle-11/
LOCATION:The Community Works\, 21 Park End Street\, Oxford\, OX1 1HH\, United Kingdom
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://oxfordpoetrylibrary.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/2025-Reading-Circle.jpg
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DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20250216T120000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20250216T150000
DTSTAMP:20260403T193148
CREATED:20241213T164712Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250207T121601Z
UID:8683-1739707200-1739718000@oxfordpoetrylibrary.com
SUMMARY:Family Sunday
DESCRIPTION:Join us on the 3rd Sunday of every month\, where The Community Works will be open for Family Sunday! The library will be open for browsing\, borrowing\, or just hanging out to read\, write\, and relax. Lula’s Ethiopian Cuisine will be open for an affordable buffet\, and we will provide a safe\, inclusive space for food\, fun\, and play. \nAll are welcome to The Community Works between 12pm and 3pm to drop in for free – we’ll have books for young and old\, poetry games and activities\, and as always\, our friendly and welcoming librarian volunteers. \nWe will also have storytelling from Yaz Jenkins! Yaz Jenkins is a Oxford born story teller\, actor and writer. She gained her BA in Acting at the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts and previously worked as a Story Guide at the Story Musuem\, telling stories to children and their families. She loves combining all her different creative skills to bring a story to life.  \n 
URL:https://oxfordpoetrylibrary.com/event/family-sunday/
LOCATION:The Community Works\, 21 Park End Street\, Oxford\, OX1 1HH\, United Kingdom
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://oxfordpoetrylibrary.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Family-Sunday-poster.jpg
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