Writer-in-Residence, Brantwood, Coniston, Cumbria, September 2015-Summer 2016

** Update: November 3rd 2016, Brantwood Cafe, Brantwood Coniston Cumbria - Join Kerry Darbishire, Kim Moore and me for an evening of poetry, supper, open mic - what's not to like!? Help me celebrate my wonderful year as writer-in-residence at Brantwood! **

Booking through Brantwood:

Tel: 015394 41396

Email: enquiries@brantwood.org.uk

Delighted to share the news!

Poet Geraldine Green begins her residency in September 2015

Geraldine Green is the first Writer in Residence to be appointed by Brantwood and celebrates the inspiration given by the eminent Victorian writer John Ruskin and his historic home.  The residency is for twelve months, beginning in September 2015 and builds on the interest generated by Geraldine’s popular creative writing courses which she has tutored at Brantwood for the past four years.

Geraldine explains “It’s an exciting new venture for me, one I am looking forward to immensely. It’s a great honour to be exploring, reflecting and writing in response to this role. John Ruskin’s vision and understanding of the importance of nature and creativity to the human spirit is as relevant today – perhaps more so – than when Ruskin first uttered the words: “Nature is painting for us, day after day, pictures of infinite beauty if only we have the eyes to see them.”

Local writer Geraldine Green has two poetry collections and four chapbooks published. Her work has been widely anthologised in the UK and America. Her latest collection Salt Road, published by Indigo Dreams, explores, through poetry and prose, her home ground, the Furness Peninsula. The collection also celebrates her travels to North America, Spain, Greece and Turkey.

Her latest chapbook A Wing & A Prayer was written in response to her post as writer-in-residence at Swarthmoor Hall Ulverston, birthplace of Quakerism and was published in 2015 by Swarthmoor Hall Press.

In 2011 Geraldine gained a PhD from Lancaster University in creative writing titled: ‘An Exploration of Identity and Environment through Poetry’. She is an experienced creative writing tutor and mentor as well as associate editor of online magazine Poetry Bay www.poetrybay.com

During her residency Geraldine will be running the following courses at Brantwood :

• “Writer’s Retreat” with co-tutor Pippa Little from 19th to 22nd October 2015
• Creative writing course with American poet George Wallace on 24th– 26th June 2016

Brantwood’s Director, Howard Hull:  “Ruskin was the most gifted and poetic of writers. He not only made his living from words, he made words live. It is long overdue that Brantwood should have a writer in residence and I am absolutely delighted to that Geraldine is to be our first.”

read more in the  Westmorland Gazette    

THE OTHER SIDE OF THE BRIDGE

THE OTHER SIDE OF THE BRIDGE

Reviews of ‘The Other Side of the Bridge’ (Indigo Dreams 2012)

Green's mind possesses unerring musicality. She thinks musically whereas some poets translate their thoughts into music.

Djelloul Marbrook www.djelloulmarbrook.com

Wherever she is, Green connects with the roots and ancestry, the stories and sense-memories that shape a place and thus its people.

Walter E Harris III

http://www.allbook-books.com/html/literary_reviews.html

"These are poems of vivid and compelling energy. Nature is a living presence throughout these poems, which are spontaneous, alert, and rich in transformations. Landscape is this poet's muse, be it her native Cumbria or Long Island or the Mid West. Memory is also a rich seam for this poet." - Penelope Shuttle

Inside this volume are poems of great tenderness and moment – urging us to bend a knee, like Walt Whitman, “to better understand the blades of grass.” If fierceness and tenderness are two faces of the same coin, then the poems in ‘The Other Side of the Bridge’ are works of rare coinage. – George Wallace, Writer-in-Residence Walt Whitman Birthplace

“These are poems brimming with deep generosity. Although a faithful chronicler of Northern life, she holds out her arms to people across the world. She is a listener, a storyteller, working carefully with language to find the colours of reality. - Rose Flint

WRITE ON THE FARM, MONTHLY CREATIVE WRITING WORKSHOPS WITH GERALDINE GREEN

photo of lamb at Brantwood, 11.5.2016, by Geraldine Green

WRITE ON THE FARM – May 28^th 2016, with Geraldine Green

Here’s the workshop outline for the day:

10.15am - gather in Jane’s farmhouse kitchen for refreshments

10.30am - welcome and intro

10.40am - group feedback on your own poem/prose - no more than TWO sides of A4 please! Please bring six copies. Thanks

11.15am (approx.) - 2 x writing prompts, a warm up and one other

11.45am - Short Break (if required)

12-12.30 (approx.) group discussion on “what’s your comfort zone? followed by writing prompt

12.30pm-1.30pm  approx - LUNCH - please bring own lunch

1.30pm-2.30pm (approx.) outdoor session with writing prompt

2.30pm short break followed by quiet writing time

3.30pm-4.30pm - readback/feedback of work written during the day; writing prompt if time

£35, incl. refreshments. Please bring own lunch, waterproof footwear and clothing.

Steamship The Gondola, owned by the National Trust, it sails on Coniston Water (photo by Geoff Green 12.5.2016)

Next workshop: ‘Write on the Gondola’, June 18^th  workshop cost: £35 - this month we’re holding our workshop on the National Trust’s wonderful steam-powered boat the Gondola, on Coniston Water. Please note, places are limited and the workshop is now fully booked. There is a reserve list if you;d like to email me and add your name.

Thanks, looking forward to seeing you!

Geraldine Green 11.5.2016

MIDSUMMER POETRY COURSE WITH PIPPA LITTLE AND GERALDINE GREEN JUNE 24TH-26TH 2016 AT BRANTWOOD CONISTON CUMBRIA UK

Lower Gardens, Brantwood, June 2015, photo by Geraldine Green

MIDSUMMER POETRY at BRANTWOOD CONISTON

24th-26th JUNE 2016 with PIPPA LITTLE 

and GERALDINE GREEN

Join us at Brantwood Coniston, former home of John Ruskin, for a weekend of poetry, good food, views and company. The course will run from 2pm Friday 24th June to 2pm Sunday 26th June 2015. 

Using a variety of writing prompts and stimuli new writing will be produced. There will be an opportunity for group feedback at the end of each session and one-to-one tutorials with the tutors on Sunday morning. 

The gardens and grounds of Brantwood, with views across the Lake to Coniston Old Man Dow Crag and Coppermines Valley, are an ideal setting for a weekend writing course. Course participants are also welcome to look around the house free of charge during the weekend. 

Course fee: £240
This includes evening meals on Friday and Saturday and lunch on Saturday and Sunday.

Residential and non-residential options are available. The Lodge at Brantwood accommodates nine people in four double or twin-bedded rooms and one single. There are also local farmhouse Bed and Breakfasts, Guest Houses and the YHA in and around Coniston village.

Accommodation cost:
Bed and Breakfast accommodation is available for those participating in Brantwood's courses. Staying at Brantwood is one of the delights of studying here, spending time in good company and immersing yourself in the whole experience. Brantwood Lodge has been newly refurbished and will sleep up to 9 people, with 2 twin rooms, 2 double rooms and a single room. 

The Lodge enjoys wonderful views across Coniston Water. There is a communal kitchen/diner/living room with a wood burning stove. You can bathe in Ruskin's bath! 

The BandB rate is £50 per person per room/£35 per person shared occupancy/£35 per night single room. Breakfast is provided in the kitchen for guests to help themselves to cereal, toast, fruit, yogurt. Accommodation can also be booked for partners in double/twin rooms at the same BandB rate. 

Further information and booking is available through Brantwood

Tel: 015394 41396 

email: enquiries@brantwood.org.uk

www.brantwood.org.uk

early booking is advisable!

Information on the tutors can be found here:

Geraldine Green
Pippa Little

Brantwood jetty, June 2015, photo by Geraldine Green

COURSE OUTLINE:

FRIDAY 24th June- 1pm at The Lodge: Welcome to Brantwood!

1pm – Geraldine, Pippa and Rachel to meet participants at The Lodge for refreshments. Anyone arriving before 1pm is welcome to look round Brantwood, its house and gardens. Maps of the grounds are available, please ask at Reception.

1.45pm – Meet in The Schoolroom, Brantwood, situated next to The Studio (signposted) for Welcome and Introduction to the Course. Pippa and Geraldine to explain the timetable for the weekend.

Fire exits shown by green arrows. Toilets can be found next to the Schoolroom and also by the Linton Room, situated between the Lodge and Main House.

2-3.15pm – Introduction and Welcome -  sharing of poems by other writers, brief discussion on each one - please bring one poem with you by another poet for this group share - no longer than one side of A4, thanks!

3.15 – 3.30pm: Break for coffee/tea

3.30-5pm – Writing exercises

5-7pm – Free time to enjoy the grounds and/or rest

7pm - Gather at The Lodge 

7.30pm – Dinner in Brantwood Cafe situated close to the Lodge

SATURDAY 25 June – Meet in The Schoolroom

9.30-11am – writing exercises using a variety of stimuli to produce new writing

11-11.15am – Break

11.15am – 12.30pm – writing exercises continued

12.30-1.30pm – LUNCH at Brantwood Cafe. 

1.30-3.15pm - Outdoor writing session/reflective walk.

3.15-3.30pm – Break, tea/coffee in The Schoolroom

3.30-5pm - Time to write up a poem produced from the writing exercises 

5-6.30pm – Free time

6.30-7.15pm – Evening Reading by Pippa, Geraldine and the Group in The Lodge 

7.30pm – Buffet meal in The Lodge

SUNDAY 21st June

10-11.30am – Writing exercises, plus one to one tutorials 

11.30-11.45am – Break

11.45-1pm - Writing exercises plus one to one tutorials 

1pm-2pm  – light lunch at Brantwood Cafe and Depart

Please note: the Group is welcome to look round the House and Grounds over the weekend. Thank you and welcome!