A look back at 2024
As 2024 draws to a close, we asked the Literature Works team to tell us about some of their highlights from the year. Our programme has seen us deliver events and activities and engage with readers and writers across the region, so we were spoilt for choice here…
Megan Brooks
Programme Assistant (Maternity Cover)
We were very pleased to welcome the brilliant poet, performer and facilitator Fathima Zahra as our Quay Words Autumn writer-in-residence. Fathima explored our Routes theme through a poetry workshop that invited participants to trace their own journeys through place and memory, whilst reflecting on the work of different poets. Whilst in residence Fathima also hosted Quay Words’ first Book Club, with an engaging discussion on Safiya Sinclair’s memoir: How to Say Babylon. We’re hoping to bring Fathima back for an event in Exeter next year – watch this space.
It was wonderful to hear Plymouth Young City Laureate Frankie Baldry speaking on BBC Radio Devon in September and November. We were delighted to hear her read her poem about Plymouth live on the radio! Listen back here. Frankie also joined past Plymouth Laureate of Words Laura Horton to run two brilliant creative writing workshops for young writers in The Nook at Theatre Royal Plymouth, exploring themes of sustainability to create short dramatic monologues.
Helen Chaloner
Chief Executive
If I ever need reminding of just how much creative words really matter in people’s lives, I turn to our Poetry Cares sessions for people living with memory loss. It is amazing to see how poetry moves people and sparks memory, so it was special that in May of this year, Poetry Cares joined a festival for the first time and Jo Burridge, one of our trained local poets, led a ‘Favourite Poems’ session at Burnham Book Festival in Somerset.
It also made me happy in October to visit the first ever Looe Festival of Words in Cornwall and be part of two Literature Works projects in action. Our Seed Bed strand had supported the local Marine Conservation Group to lead ‘Poetry on the Rocks’ sessions of rock pooling and poetry for families and the ‘Women Speak Volumes’ group of older women writers gave a reading and talk which I helped introduce. This was a beautifully community-based, vibrant and varied festival with something for everyone. People of all ages were having a great time with words and stories. Looe looked stunning in the autumn sun, and it felt like literature really does work.
Matt Farley
Acting Programme Manager
It has been a delight working with our Word Space talent development cohort 2024-25 and following their progress throughout the year, together celebrating their successes in publishing, prizes and their own personal writing goals. It’s been a real pleasure getting to know so many of our writers from all across the region, whether they’re in Cornwall, Dorset, Bristol or beyond!
This Summer, our wonderful Plymouth Laureate of Words Rosemarie Corlett worked with the Plymouth Sound National Marine Park on a variety of creative writing activities across the city. A highlight for sure was the SeaFest Poetry stage, where Rosemarie brought together some of Plymouth’s finest poets and spoken word performers for a word-filled celebration of the city’s blue spaces.
Simon Reid
Digital and Marketing Officer
I’ve been delighted at how the Quay Words Young Writers’ Flash Fiction competition has grown this year, with so many high quality entries from all across our region, but also as far afield as Nigeria, Nepal and the Philippines. We even collected the prizewinning and highly commended entries in a special, fully illustrated pamphlet. I find it really satisfying to see the creativity of this age group being unlocked and celebrated, so thanks again to all of the parents, guardians and teachers who spread the word. I’m looking forward to us running the competition again, as well the other ways we’ll develop our offering for young writers during 2025.
