C Words

Dorothea Smartt (African Writers Abroad) joined the C Words closing Party and Benefit for the Canadian Indigenous Tar Sands Campaigners live via Skype. She performed her specially commisioned poem, A Sense of Denial, together with several other poems written specifically to the C Words season and inspired by the issues raised.

A Sense of Denial

Denial looks black, panelled, silver-edged
and gleaming. Car-washed in water
enough to quench a dying village’s thirst,  Read more

Two poets from African Writers Abroad were commssioned to respond to the C Words season. To craft the poem below, Simon Murray (Sai Mu Rai) borrows the title of Dorothea Smartt's poetry workshop "Full Circle" and draws upon some of the many words, phrases and themes that arose throughout the C Words season. The poem was performed live at the closing Party and Benefit for the Canadian Indigenous Tar Sands Campaigners on the 28th November.

*warning* contains language that some may find offensive

FULL CIRCLE

(for Jane Trowell, Dorothea Smartt & the C Words Family)

proposition I

enough words!  Read more

We had a barnstorming weekend. Really very good, and although a bit by the seat of our pants, we more than got away with it. Very good spirit among everyone. 'C Words: where are we going?' worked pretty well. Difficult to really reflect and evaluate when it's all still so recent, but the discussions were meaningful and gave us lots of useful points to use when we do our critique in earnest... The Auction of late-Capitalist artefacts was absolutely hilarious and somehow completely dodgy while being brilliant (ie, a fantastically complex event).  Read more

On 1st December PLATFORM's Agitpod mobile cinema will set off on it's return journey from Bristol to London, why not join us?  Read more

The last time I was in Bristol, a series of conversations and events brought this into sharp focus for me. The first was Friday’s Critical Tea Party. There were two visitors who’d been tempted upstairs by the offer of tea and cake. The conversation began with Pete and the Institute reflecting on the week, which started with an attempt at ethical shopping in the centre of Bristol. One of the visitors from Swansea, Greg, began to tell us how he ‘confiscates’ dates from Tesco’s on a regular basis. These are dates grown in the West Bank, by Israeli settlers.  Read more

Dorothea Smartt, one of the commissioned poets from African Writers Abroad, today releases a beautiful, inspiring poem created just one week ago out of the 7th November creative writing workshop: Killing T.I.N.A, Embracing T.A.B.O.O (see below).

The ink is still wet but Dorothea's willingness to share this piece is testament to the amazing Creativity, Connections & Co-creations that are springing up with the C Words project.  Read more

To capture the essence of C Words, African Writers Abroad have released a constant stream of poetry online and offline, on physical and virtual walls. A leaflet will also soon be made available in the Arnolfini for visitors to take away which features this poetry together with newly commissioned work, contributions from participants on the creative writing workshops, and from local Bristol writers and poets.

The first poem to be released in the season is below.  Read more

We're into the second half of the run now, and on a day to day basis everything is running pretty well.

There have been some really great moments recently:
* the Institute's barge moored outside Arnolfini, completely wrapped in their 30m red banner, emblazoned "The concept of culture is deeply reactionary" and "With our £2000 artists fee we are going to Copenhagen" etc etc. Not to mention a week of daily family interventions and
performances.

* Trapese's 2nd Dayschool completely packed out and fascinating. Popular Education and Cultural Activism all day long.  Read more

C Words seeks to avert a future where climate refugees clamour in vain at sealed borders.  Read more