Local Poetry for Local People
Local Poetry for Local People
This personal account of running a local literature project is by project manager, producer and marketeer Penny Rutterford. Penny works part time at Spread the Word and is currently on the NALD Second Steps mentoring scheme.
Take a stroll down a typical high street and what do you see? I guess estate agents and fast food outlets. I live in E17, once famed for a greyhound stadium that graced the sleeve of a Britpop album and spawned a popular boy band but now Hoe Street, the busy road that leads from the tube station to the top of the High Street and what is purported to be the longest permanent street market in Europe, is like many others. A string of estate agents punctuated by chicken diners and kebab shops. But in September 2011 we bought poetry and art to Hoe Street with Walthamstow’s first Poetry Trail.
It’s most definitely not all doom and gloom in Walthamstow when it comes to culture. The area has vibrant resident artists and is culturally diverse and locally engaged. For ten days each September Walthamstow plays host to an annual independent, artist led, community focussed festival which invites artists of all abilities, interests and backgrounds to take part. We have exhibitions in the local museums and galleries as well as windows, front rooms, sheds, garages, community centres, shops, cafes, and even on hedges and street lamps. 2011 was the 7th year of the festival and took place in 120 venues hosting 200 exhibitions and involving over 1200 artists and contributors.
