The Lit Review |22| The Pool
Take a Dip
British broadcaster Lauren Laverne and journalist Sam Baker have launched The Pool, a new online platform specifically for women. The website showcases audio, video and writing from well-known journalists. Laverne explains here that although hosted on a digital platform, the site is inspired by the ‘broadcast’ model, concentrating on how traditional radio is always aimed at ‘an audience of one.’ I’m really impressed by what Laverne and Baker have come up with so far; there is a great feminist flavour to the website without being clichéd or over the top and they have included clever sections such as Women we Love and Kitchen Salon Conversation. I look forward to seeing what else is planned for the site.
Pick up a Pen Pal
Penning letters and scrawling prose onto paper is a beautiful thing and apparently it is still as important as ever. National Stationery Week will take place from April 27th-May 3rd and is encouraging people young and old to get involved. Here are a few easy ways to do so.
Easy Targets
The arts are under severe pressure in Northern Ireland according to Jane Coyle in this Irish Times article. The council has recently endured an 11.2% cut in funding and has been forced to make very strategic and difficult decisions as a result. Six arts organisations have taken the hit, including two publishing companies, Blackstaff Press in Belfast and Guildhall Press in Derry. The board of Publishing Ireland has expressed its regret over the ‘savage cut by the Arts Council of Northern Ireland of its grant to Blackstaff Press. This is historically one of the most distinguished publishing houses on the island, bravely founded at the height of the Troubles.’ The #ArtsMattersNI group which was set up by a group of professional practitioners to raise awareness of the arts also expressed the fear that ‘the devaluing of cultural activity sends out a negative message about Northern Ireland as a progressive society.’
No Gold Stars for Salman Rushdie
Salman Rushdie is currently under fire for not understanding the internet. The writer has been scuttling around Goodreads ‘goofing around’ and rating the books of his peers while ‘experimenting with the website.’ In fairness, we are all entitled to our opinions and our tastes. But apparently not if you are Salman Rushdie.
New Book on Eileen Gray
Eileen Gray, Her Work and Her World is the latest biography of the artist and designer by Jennifer Goff, curator of the National Museum of Ireland. Goff writes ‘Eileen Gray is utterly remarkable both in terms of her life story and her life’s work.’ This article comments on Goff’s dedication to Gray and describes Goff’s book as a ‘thorough and passionate enquiry into Gray’s Irish origins, her influence, her life and milieu in Paris and the Côte d’Azur.’ Gray is depicted as a pioneer of Modernism in Paris. This book ‘richly illustrates’ a vast catalogue of the adored artist’s work. You can purchase it here.
Story Telling and Writing Courses
Irish people like to boast of their superior story telling ability. If you’re no different, but you feel you need to polish up on your Irish folklore, then you can sign up to the latest story telling course from the Irish Leprechaun Museum.
If oration isn’t your gig you might be interested in a creative writing workshop. In conjunction with the Bealtaine Festival, which celebrates creativity in the aging community, Fighting Words is hosting a writing course for those over fifty five who need a push to get those letters flowing. The course will be held in Behan Square, 13 Russell Street, Dublin 1 and will take place over three Fridays in May (15th, 22nd and 29th) from 1.30pm to 3.30pm. You can apply for the course here.
To celebrate Bealtaine’s twentieth birthday, Age and Opportunity and Listowel Writers Centre are offering a lucky individual over sixty the opportunity to participate in the MA in Creative Writing at the University of Limerick. A bursary of €3,000 plus a partial fee waiver will support the person in undertaking the one year MA course. For further details look here.
The Moth in Dublin
The Moth, a non-profit organisation dedicated to live storytelling, will entertain an audience in Dublin this evening. Since 1997, The Moth has told stories to thousands of people in cities around the world. Each show adopts a theme, sharing stories about ordinary life. The Ties that Bind will feature as the theme for this evening at the event in Dublin’s Liberty Hall. Find out more here.
Cork Comic Expo
Soon Mahon Point in Cork will be awash with comic book fanatics attending the first Cork Comic Expo. Will Sliney, the current artist behind Spider-Man 2099, published by Marvel Comics, will make an appearance at the event on April 25th which is expected to attract thousands of people. The inaugural convention has put together a great programme with workshops, demonstrations and art competitions. Aspiring fans can also gain tips from some of Ireland’s emerging comic book artists and writers.
