The Poetry Chair

On Sunday 20th June, The Poetry Shop opened in Hebden Bridge, as part of the Arts Festival. The Poetry Shop brings together work from international poets as well as local children and has been specially created for the Arts Festival by Jane Revitt working with Lizzie Lockhart. This new version of a larger installation - The Poetry Lounge, last appeared at the Royal Festival Hall in 2002.

John Hegley, opening the "Poetry Chair",
thanking Festival Administrator, Enid Stephenson

More pictures: slide show

The Poetry Shop brings poetry to life by making it part of the furniture - an exciting collaboration between children, visual artists and poets. There are plenty of unusual ways to experience and enjoy poetry here as well as the opportunity to create your own. Visitors will be surrounded by poetry about place: larger than life poetry from local children covers the walls and by sitting in one of the speaking poetry chairs they will be able to hear children reading their own poems. Poetry and messages have also been supplied from around the world by well known poets, which can be accessed through an answerphone. Contributors include Amanda Dalton (one of Britain's "best new poets"), Sophie Hannah, current Children's Laureate: Michael Morpurgo, previous Laureate: Anne Fine, author of classic children's novel The Phantom Tollbooth: Norton Juster, John Hegley, who has been working with local children, and many more local poets.

The Poetry Shop runs along with the Arts Festival from 19th June to 4th July, 2004. Opening hours are: Mon-Sat 10-5, Sun 12-5.

The Poetry Shop has been made possible with the assistance of Arts Council England, Calderdale MBC and Ordnance Survey.