Stimulating new work with series of series of workshops

STEPHANIE Norgate, the first poet in residence at the University of Chichester’s Otter Gallery, is to host a series of creative writing workshops.

The aim of the workshops is to develop poems and other writing in response to exhibitions at the gallery.

Poet and playwright Stephanie runs the MA in creative writing at the University of Chichester. Her poetry collection, Hidden River (2008), was shortlisted for the Forward First Collection Prize and the Jerwood Aldeburgh First Collection.

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Her plays have been broadcast on Radio 4, and earlier this year she took part in a collaborative project with painter Jayne Sandys-Renton when paintings and poems were brought together for The Fallen House And Other Voices at the Otter Gallery.

Her 90-minute creative writing sessions will take place within the gallery itself.

Stephanie said: “The workshops are aimed at stimulating new work through a series of writing exercises devised in relation to the visual work.

“The Otter Gallery provides a unique resource for the creative person. I have my own favourites among the artwork in the Otter Collection and am looking forward to writing about and revisiting particular pictures and objects.”

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Members of the public are particularly welcome at the workshops, which are £3 per session for the public and free to university students and staff. “Total beginners or experienced writers are all welcome,” said Stephanie.”

The workshops are:

Wednesday, October 13, 12 noon–1.30pm: This session will be working ‘against gravity’ through a series of imaginative exercises that take their starting point from life-size projections. It will coincide with Gravity Shift, a digital dance installation that runs from September 29-October 26.

Wednesday, November 17, 12 noon-1.30pm: Responding to photographer Rachel Cunningham’s exploration of the construction of myths through representation. Rachel’s work can be seen at the Otter Gallery from October 29–November 25.

Wednesday, January 26 2011, 12 noon-1.30pm. In response to Pairings, an exhibition exploring collaborative practice, which runs at the Otter Gallery from December 1–January 26, 2011, this workshop will focus on pairings which stimulate new associations.

Anyone interested in booking a place on the workshops should contact Lorna Sargent, tel. 01243 816163 or Catharine Russell at the Otter Gallery, email: [email protected].