C-Art, the Eden Arts project which co-ordinates and promotes an annual open studios event with visual artists throughout the county, is organising its first ‘forum’ event.

YAK YAK invites creatives of all kinds (musicians, painters, craftspeople, writers, filmakers et al) to get together to meet and learn about each others’ work, share experiences and ideas, and generally socialise. Read more>>

“And so we assemble, we literary congregation, and lift up our eyes to the hills and welcome writers and readers alike once more to the holy lakeside of Derwentwater … ”

Festival President Melvyn Bragg sounds distinctly Shakespearean in his introduction to this year’s Words by the Water, which takes place from 2-11 March at Theatre by the Lake. Read more>>

The Wordsworth Trust has announced the full programme of its Arts & Book Festival in January. Jack Mapanje, Stuart Maconie (pictured), Martin Figura, Paul Farley, Michael Symmons Roberts, Kathleen Jones, and the Trust’s new Poet in Residence, Carola Luther, all feature.

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Festival organiser Angela Locke is cock-a-hoop. Last weekend’s Maryport Litfest, the fourth, doubled last year’s audience and turned out to be a celebration of mostly home-grown writers and writing. Here’s Angela’s review of the proceedings – if you were there too, please chip in with your own comments and observations. Read more>>

We’re in the process of transferring events listings into the calendar you can see on the right. In the meantime, you can still find eveything you need to know about what’s on where right here>>

Got an event you want to tell us about? Send details to enquiries@newwritingcumbria.org.uk.

This year’s LitFest in Maryport – the fourth – has a terrific programme of speakers and writers lined up to explore its chosen theme of Beyond The Frontiers, inspired by Senhouse Roman Museum’s position at the Western end of Hadrian’s Wall. The festival opens on 4 November and tickets are selliing fast, so don’t hang about if you want one.

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The Wordsworth Trust in Grasmere has announced a busy winter programme, including a series of informal and relaxed events in the intimate setting of Dove Cottage itself.

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Cumbrian storyteller and promoter Kat Quatermass has announced a new season of storytelling performances at Brigsteer Village Hall.

Dreamfired Storynights are a great South Lakeland night out in a fabulous rural setting – an invitation to put everything to one side, let the storytellers’ words enter your mind and transport you off to amazing places.

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Litfest’s latest programme of writing courses and workshops at The Storey in Lancaster is open for booking, so don’t hang about if you want to secure a place.

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