Northern Isles collaboration results in writing weekend
(Story dated: Monday, January 19, 2006)

A two-day writing event will be held in Kirkwall, on February 11 and 12, thanks to a collaboration between Shetland Arts Trust, Orkney Arts Forum and Orkney Islands Council.

The first-ever Northern Isles Writing Weekend will give people in Orkney a chance to participate in workshops in prose and poetry writing, as well as an opportunity to enjoy an evening’s reading by visiting and local writers.

Visiting writers will include poet, Jen Hadfield, who will hold a workshop on the Saturday, and Alison Miller, whose acclaimed first novel, Demo was published last November.

Jen is currently writer in residence with Shetland Arts Trust. Interviews with both Jen and Alison will feature in this month’s Tullimentan programme(BBC Radio Orkney) tonight, Thursday, at 6.05pm.

Saturday’s workshops and readings will be held at the St Magnus Centre, Palace Road, Kirkwall, and further day’s workshop in making artist books will take place at Orkney College, on Sunday, February 12.

On Saturday evening, Alex Cluness will read from his own work, as will a number of local writers.

The Sunday workshop will be led by artist and printmaker, Carol Dunbar. It is hoped that a display of artist books will take place on both days, including examples loaned for the occasion by the Centre for Artist Books at Dundee Contemporary Arts.

Anyone wishing to lend further material for the display is invited to contact the organisers.

Organisers of the event are OIC’s arts development officer, Clare Gee, with Shetland Arts Trust’s writing development officer, Alex Cluness, and chairman and literature representative of the Orkney Arts Forum, Alistair Peebles.

Numbers are limited for all workshop events.

Clare, Alex and Alistair came up with the idea during discussions on the future direction of writing development in Orkney, which included the possibility of co-operation with Shetland.

The discussions have included writing development officer with HI-Arts, Peter Urpeth, and Dr Donna Heddle, of Orkney College.

The question of continuing support for Orkney Writing Fellowship is part of that ongoing discussion.

Further details about the weekend’s programme and information about ticket prices areavailable from Clare Gee on 873535, or Clare.Gee@orkney. gov.uk.