Free Poetry Festival to Be Held at Putney Library


Library prepares to celebrate its 125th anniversary this month

Rishi Dastidar and Lisa Kelly will discuss poetry
Rishi Dastidar and Lisa Kelly will discuss poetry

May 14, 2024

A not-for-profit organisation, the London Independent Story Prize (LISP), is planning to host a free poetry festival at Putney Library.

The LISP Poetry Festival will take place on Saturday 22 June and will be open to all. It will feature workshops, talks, and poetry readings and will run from 12:30 to 4:30pm at Putney Library.

Two well-known poets will be joining the discussions at the end of the workshops: Rishi Dastidar, an award-winning poet and trustee of Wasafiri, known for his poetry reviews in the Guardian, and Lisa Kelly, founder of Magma magazine.

There will also be Poetry Masterclasses led by poets Nick Makoha, Sarah Hesketh, and Helen Bowell. Free tickets are available for these sessions for those who need them. These places are available to UK writers who are on a low income – for example receiving benefits such as Job Seeker’s Allowance, Working Tax Credits, Universal Credit, Disability Living Allowance, Carer’s Allowance and Employment and Support Allowance. They start at 10 a.m. in the Meeting Room at Putney Library.

Find out more, register for events and book sessions here.

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