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PEN International and English PEN to host Free the Word! Literary Festival at Poetry Parnassus
PEN International and English PEN | 24th May 2012
PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Free series of events and workshops exploring literature and freedom of expression to take place at the Southbank Centre on 27 June 2012.
On Wednesday 27 June PEN International and English PEN will host Free the Word! Literary Festival at Poetry Parnassus, as part of the London 2012 Cultural Olympiad programme. The festival, taking place in the in theQueen Elizabeth Hall Foyer, will see some of the world’s most renowned writers, thinkers and academics debate key literary and freedom of expression issues. Attendance is free and visitors will be able to take action on behalf of imprisoned writers worldwide, get involved with ‘living’ installations and partake in creative writing workshops focusing on Writers At Risk.
Poetry Parnassus is an international celebration of literature which will bring together the world’s most exciting poets, rappers, spoken word artists, singers and storytellers, including Seamus Heaney, Wole Soyinka, John Agard, Shailja Patel, Jack Mapange and Rafeef Ziadeh for the largest poetry festival ever staged in the UK. Simon Armitage, Southbank Centre Artist in Residence, has said:
My hunch is that this will be the biggest poetry event ever – a truly global coming together of poets and a monumental poetic happening worthy of the spirit and history of the Olympics themselves.
PEN International’s Free the Word! festival will kick off with a breakfast at which visitors will be able to learn more about PEN’s role in promoting literature and the issues that affect writers around the world. A series of dynamic debates will follow - chaired among others by Sir Andrew Motion - on topics ranging from exile to language death, (anti-)nationalism, borders and identity. Throughout the day visitors will be able to work closely with artist Wendy Ann Greenhalgh, AKA Story Scavenger, to compose poems inspired by the work of imprisoned or persecuted writers, which will sent directly to those whose work inspired them. For a full list of events taking place, please see http://www.pen-international.org/newsitems/free-the-word-at-poetry-parnassus-june-27th/ For all events at Poetry Parnassus, see http://festival.london2012.com/events/9000961412
Notes to editors:
PEN International celebrates literature and promotes freedom of expression. Founded in 1921, our global community of writers now comprises 144 Centres spanning more than 100 countries. Our programmes, campaigns, events and publications connect writers and readers for global solidarity and cooperation. PEN International is a non-political organization and holds consultative status at the United Nations and UNESCO.
PEN International’s Free the Word! festivals aim to celebrate the best in contemporary literature from around the world. Each festival is rooted in its local culture, but is international in outlook, and aims to bring writers together across cultures to share experiences and explore ideas and open conversations about how literature can transform, influence and excite.
For more information and to request interviews please contact our Literary Manager, Paul Finegan:
paul.finegan@pen-international | + 44 (0) 20 7405 0338.
www.pen-international.org | @pen_int
