Art:Up Poetry – Radical Islands

Thursday 13th November
6.00pm (doors open 5pm)

Hot Box
28 Viaduct Rd, Chelmsford CM1 1TS

The theme for this leg of the tour is Radical Islands, linking in with Essex Book Festival’s Radical Islands project. You can pen a poem by yourself or collabrate. If you want to collaborate and have a collaborator then great, if you need to find a collaborator then drop poetry@hotboxlive.co.uk a line in the first instance and they will get the ball rolling.

When thinking about the word Island, it can be one of the 35 islands around the Essex coastline, or maybe Mesopotamia Island in Chelmsford, let your minds wander.

The Art:Up! project which is is part of “The Being Human Festival, the U.K.’s Festival of the Humanities” was launched at the University’s Art Exchange gallery as part of the 2025 Essex Book Festival.

For the first event Essex (and HOT BOX) poets Ethan Stewart and Babalon Anon launched the open mic show and eco-poet Linden K McMahon headlined. Fifteen poets performed and Babalon Anon commented that “there is no diversity without neurodiversity”.

There will be a book of selected works, and the final showcase event will form part of the 2026 Essex Book Festival.

Follow art_up_poetry on Instagram.

Book your free place here.

The post The Art:Up Continues! appeared first on Essex Book Festival.

Saturday 20 June 2026, 4.00pm – 6.00pm
CVS Tendring, Sam’s Hall, Imperial House, 20-22 Rosemary Road, Clacton-on-Sea, CO15 1NZ

Join The Art:UP! This collaborative poetry project launched at the 2025 Essex Book Festival, and has seen more than fifty poets from across Essex get together and share new poetry.

The final instalment of this year’s project is on the topic ‘Homecoming’.

You can get involved by:
signing up to write something new with a partner,
writing your own poem on the theme,
or just coming along to support diverse voices from around the county.

This project is lead by The University of Essex, Essex Book Festival, Waxes Lyrical in Chelmsford, PoetryPlus in Manningtree and Clacton’s own Boho Banter.

We actively encourage new and neurodivergent writers to participate in this project.

Tickets: Free, booking recommended
Box Office: eventbrite.co.uk

To find out more, email Dr Jordan Savage: jksava@essex.ac.uk, or find us on insta: art_up_poetry

* PLEASE NOTE CHANGE OF VENUE *
This event will now take place at Sam’s Hall, CVS Tendring on Rosemary Road.

Part of Clacton Rocks!

Essex Book Festival is teaming up with Essex Cultural Diversity Project and Clacton Arts Centre to host Clacton Rocks! a 1-day (and night) programme of events, including Stand up For Diversity; Performance poet Atilla the Stockbroker; The Human Library; Art:Up Poetry Open Mic; Storytelling and Workshops. Visit essexbookfestival.org.uk/event/clacton-rocks/ for details.

The post Art:Up! Homecoming Poetry Reading And Open Mic appeared first on Essex Book Festival.

Saturday 20 June 2026

Essex Book Festival is teaming up with Essex Cultural Diversity Project, Clacton Arts Centre and others to host ‘Clacton Rocks’, a day of fun activities on Saturday 20 June across Clacton including Eco-workshops, Beach Hut Storytelling, The Human Library, Stand up For Diversity Clacton, and Art:Up Poetry Open Mic.

Know your Beach Workshop
Seaside Explorer’s Libby Scarfe

10.00am – 12.00pm
Clacton Beach, meet by Clacton Pier

Join Seaside Explorers on Clacton beach to explore the local habitat. We’ll be looking for treasures that the seaside has to offer to inspire some creative art from around the world. And, of course, there will also be some time for a story and maybe some marine mischief!

Stories and songs will be BSL supported.

Suits ages 5-11 but everybody welcome!

Tickets: £3 per young person. Accompanying adult free.
Book tickets: https://BSLknowyourbeach.eventbrite.co.uk

This event is part of The Young Ones project which is supported by Essex County Council’s Cultural Development Project Fund, to support the growth of cultural venues and organisations that bring culture to the heart of communities in Essex.

Fun at the Beach Hut
Mer Richardson

10.00am – 4.00pm
CVST beach hut- just along from Toby Carvery, Clacton-on-Sea.

Tendring CVS invite you to their beach hut (near Toby Carvery) for some family fun.

From farm boggarts to funny fairies come and join local Storyteller Mer Richardson weaving warm tales connecting us to the world.

Family friendly. Free. Drop in anytime between 10am and 4pm.

10am – 2pm Beach Hut Storytelling
10am – 2pm Pebble Painting
10am – 12pm Community Litter Pick
12pm – 4pm Trash to Treasure: Art Workshops

The Human Library – Clacton
unjudge someone

11.00am – 3.00pm
CVS Tendring, Sam’s Hall, Imperial House, 20-22 Rosemary Road, Clacton-on-Sea, CO15 1NZ

The Human Library is coming to Clacton!

Just like in a real library, a visitor to the Human Library can borrow a book from a range of titles. The difference is that books are PEOPLE, and reading is a CONVERSATION.

Books in our Human Library come from all walks of life, and each has an experience to share. Come along, connect with people you wouldn’t normally meet, and celebrate positive differences in our communities.

Tickets: Free, no booking required. Drop in anytime between 11am and 3pm.
Cold and hot drinks will be available to purchase as part of the event.

Find out more including how to become a human book at essexcdp.com/event/human-library-clacton/.

The Young Ones Eco-Workshops

12.00pm – 3.00pm
Clacton Library, Station Road (opposite the Town Hall), Clacton-on-Sea, CO15 1SF

Wise Ram workshop credit Lorna Powell

Join in the fun with these free interactive workshops.

Write a Letter to the Future which will become part of a county-wide children’s zine.

The Vanishing Lake with Wise Ram Theatre – Wise Ram Theatre will be running a free, family friendly drop-in activity at Clacton Library. All are welcome for fun creative activities, from drawing characters, doing crafts and playing games. By taking part you will help create a new fantasy adventure show called ‘The Vanishing Lake’.

Wise Ram Theatre is a theatre company based in Harwich making theatre with humour, heart and nerve. In 2025 they delivered a Eco-Theatre workshop for Manifesto4Essex in Colchester and family workshops at Essex Green Weekend. Read more on their website wiseramtheatre.co.uk or follow on social media @wiseramtheatre.

Tickets: Free, drop-in, no booking required

This event is part of The Young Ones project which is supported by Essex County Council’s Cultural Development Project Fund, to support the growth of cultural venues and organisations that bring culture to the heart of communities in Essex.

Creative Wellbeing Workshop
Mer Richardson

2.30pm – 3.30pm
Clacton Art Gallery, Rosemary Road, CO15 1TF

Befriending Your Thoughts To Change Your World.

Creative wellbeing workshop by local wellbeing coach and storyteller Mer Richardson. Learn how to rewire your brain and make personalised oyster shell decoupage affirmations.

Tickets: Free, drop-in – donations welcome

Tiptoes Creatives Launch

3.00pm – 4.00pm
CVS Tendring, Sam’s Hall, Imperial House, 20-22 Rosemary Road, Clacton-on-Sea, CO15 1NZ

A new group in Clacton for those wanting to explore journaling and creative writing to help their wellbeing.

* PLEASE NOTE CHANGE OF VENUE *
This event will now take place at Sam’s Hall, CVS Tendring on Rosemary Road.

Art:Up! Homecoming Poetry Reading And Open Mic

4.00pm – 6.00pm
CVS Tendring, Sam’s Hall, Imperial House, 20-22 Rosemary Road, Clacton-on-Sea, CO15 1NZ

Art Up photo credit Christian Leppich

Join The Art:UP! This collaborative poetry project launched in the 2025 Essex Book Festival, and has seen more than fifty poets from across Essex get together and share new poetry.
The final instalment of this year’s project is on the topic ‘Homecoming’.

You can get involved by:
signing up to write something new with a partner,
writing your own poem on the theme,
or just coming along to support diverse voices from around the county.

This project is lead by The University of Essex, Essex Book Festival, Waxes Lyrical in Chelmsford, PoetryPlus in Manningtree and Clacton’s own Boho Banter.

We actively encourage new and neurodivergent writers to participate in this project.

To find out more, email Dr Jordan Savage: jksava@essex.ac.uk, or find us on insta: art_up_poetry

Tickets: Free, booking recommended
Box Office: artupclacton.eventbrite.co.uk

* PLEASE NOTE CHANGE OF VENUE *
This event will now take place at Sam’s Hall, CVS Tendring on Rosemary Road.

Stand Up For Diversity Clacton

6.30pm – 8.30pm
CVS Tendring, Sam’s Hall, Imperial House, 20-22 Rosemary Road, Clacton-on-Sea, CO15 1NZ

You are invited to an evening of three-minute mini-talks and short shout-outs, bringing together those who want to champion diversity in Clacton.

Come along to make new connections, explore the transformative power of creativity, and collectively celebrate diverse voices involved in the arts and in our communities. All welcome.

Tickets: Free, booking recommended
Box Office: su4d-clacton.eventbrite.co.uk

* PLEASE NOTE CHANGE OF VENUE *
This event will now take place at Sam’s Hall, CVS Tendring on Rosemary Road.

Attila the Stockbroker

8.30pm
The Robert Burre, 183 Burrs Rd, Clacton-on-Sea CO15 4LH

Clacton Arts Centre and Unity in the Community present Attila the Stockbroker, punk poet, multi instrumentalist musician and songwriter.

Free, no booking required.

Clacton Pier Photo credit Ryan Grice unsplash.com

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