C Words

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

TOTALLY EPIC DAY yesterday with African Writers Abroad, Virtual Migrants, and Remember Saro-Wiwa events. I was completely inspired by the energy flowing around all day - from the workshops in the Meeting Room to performances in Galleries 3 and 4. The place was buzzing. I had been having conniptions earlier in the week about getting audiences for the workshops and performances, BUT we had really good turnout, great vibe, and fantastic discussion. Good laugh til late on boat afterwards. Never has the Heloise Bay had so many poets on it at once.  Read more

Together with other PLATFORM collaborators I have been spending time in the gallery, talking with visitors about their responses to the C Words exhibition. Today, one such conversation elicited a comment which has stayed with me all day: "It's interesting - but its not art is it." "Why do you say that?" James responded. "Because it's trying to make me believe something." I took this thought to today's C Words critical tea party where a lively discussion ensued.  Read more

Today PLATFORM opened a discussion on what happens after 29th November, when the C Words season at Arnolfini comes to an end.  Read more

Today I sat, I took time watch Ursula Biemann's film Black Sea Files. The film is showing as a video installation in gallery five at Arnolfini until Sunday 8th November.  Read more

During my visits to Bristol over the past month, I have participated in an intense program of thought-provoking live performance, film and discussion as part of C Words. Some of it's been getting personal. This is a discussion of three recent intergenerational performances that bring together the mundane and the earth-shattering.  Read more

For many people the C Words season raises questions about the responsibility of artists and creative practitioners in the context of the social and environmental challenges which our society faces. Last week's Embedded conference sought - in part - to explore this issue.  Read more

Next week C Words will train a spotlight on Tar Sands, described as 'The most destructive industrial project on earth'. Join us at Arnolfini this Sunday, 25th October 2009 from 19:00 for a special preview screening on the brand new film H2Oil.  Read more