.png)
Surrey Poet Laureateship Celebrates the Launch of Ninth Poetry Hub
The Surrey Poet Laureateship is delighted to celebrate the successful launch of its ninth Poetry Hub at Epsom Library, bringing people together for a morning of poetry, creativity and shared experiences.
Joined by Mayor Lucie McIntyre, participants came together to explore, analyse and write poetry in a welcoming and supportive environment.
Exploring what poetry means to us
Participants reflected on what had brought them to the session and shared their thoughts and feelings about poetry.
The conversation highlighted the many different ways poetry can connect with our lives, from memories of school and personal experiences to a sense of community and belonging. It was a chance to reflect on how poetry can help us express ourselves, share our stories and connect with others. Finding inspiration in the everyday
Under the expert guidance of volunteers Gary Hill and Georgina Adolph, the group explored new poetic forms and experimented with different approaches to writing.
Drawing inspiration from the everyday, participants used the names of paint swatches as starting points for their poems. This creative exercise encouraged everyone to look at familiar things differently, turning unexpected words and colour descriptions into ideas, images and new pieces of writing.
The activity demonstrated that inspiration can be found in the most surprising places, and that poetry offers everyone an opportunity to explore their imagination and develop their own creative voice.
Vice President, Tori Monks, who joined the participants on the day, said:
“It was a real pleasure to be part of the launch at Epsom Library. As a poetry novice myself, I found it really encouraging to see how easily a few simple ideas could spark such creativity. The session reminded me that poetry isn’t about having all the answers or finding the perfect words; it’s about being curious, giving things a go and enjoying the process. I loved seeing everyone approach the activities in their own way, and it was a wonderful reminder that poetry is for everyone, whatever their experience or confidence. I’m delighted to see the Surrey Poet Laureateship continuing to create opportunities like this, and I look forward to seeing the Epsom Poetry Hub flourish.”
A new chapter for the Poetry Hub programming
By the end of the session, participants had explored new ideas, experimented with different poetic forms and found fresh inspiration for their writing.
The launch of the Epsom Poetry Hub marks another exciting milestone for the Surrey Poet Laureateship, expanding opportunities for people to discover poetry, express their creativity and connect with others in their community.
Reflecting on the significance of this latest launch, Adam Gary, President of the Surrey Poet Laureateship, said: “The launch of our ninth Poetry Hub is a really exciting moment for the Surrey Poet Laureateship. The demand for another Hub is a testament to the appetite for poetry and creative opportunities within our communities, and it shows just how important it is to make these spaces accessible to everyone. For the Laureateship, each new Hub represents another opportunity to reach people who may never have considered themselves poets, to build connections and to show that poetry has a place in all our lives. We’re incredibly proud to see this work growing and look forward to reaching even more people through the power of poetry.”
Through its growing network of Poetry Hubs, the Surrey Poet Laureateship continues to create welcoming spaces where people can share ideas, explore their creativity and discover the joy of writing, whatever their previous experience with poetry.
Join Us
Epsom Poetry Hub meets every other Wednesday, with the next session on Wednesday 4th November at 10am. We welcome writers of all abilities, from complete beginners to experienced poets.
For more information about upcoming events, workshops and opportunities, visit surreypoetlaureateship.org or follow us on social media @SurreyPoetLaureate
Comments