UK-renowned poet to perform at virtual fund raiser

Tony Walsh speaking at the public vigil following the bomb attack at the Manchester Arena.

Legendary poet Tony Walsh who brought the world’s attention to the Ariana Grande concert tragedy, is  performing in Write Out Loud’s ambitious online poetry performance tomorrow (Thursday 28th January).

His performance will backed poets Rachel Long, Louise Fazackerley, Luke Wright, and Antonia Jade King, with open-mic guests on a first-come-first-served basis.

They aim to raise funds for Write Out Loud, considered a vital part of the UK – and wider poetry community.

Run by Oldham-born poet Julian Jordon, Write Out Loud is now based in Marsden and is famed  internationally for supporting and encouraging poets and poetry organisations, including helping young people to write and perform poetry in schools.

However, despite all its accomplishments, it has always been almost entirely volunteer-staffed and unfunded.

Although Covid wrecked live poetry performances, Write Out Loud created a huge poetry competition in aid of NHS Charities’ Covid-19 special appeal, attracting more than 3,000 entries and raising £8,000 for the charity.
 
They have now seized an opportunity to raise funds via donations that will be doubled by matched funding from One Community, a Kirklees charity.

They have until Sunday, 31 January to raise the £10,000 needed to re-organise and cope with increased demands for their work in the post-covid world.

Development manager, Matt Abbott, said: “2020 taught us the value of poetry in difficult times for solace, celebration, connection, and myriad other reasons. It taught us the power of the poetry community, at which Write Out Loud is the very heart.

“2021 threatens fresh challenges but  poetry will carry us through, with open mic sessions  on Zoom, online workshops growing in popularity around the globe, new writers emerging, and established ones producing vibrant, visceral new work.

“With the public’s help, Write Out Loud wants to be equipped to enable, champion, inspire, and connect poets – and organisations and schools - no matter what happens during the pandemic, and continue once it’s over.”

Write Out Loud founder, Julian Jordon, said : “When  Tony Walsh read his poem, This is the Place, at the vigil following the Manchester arena , the world suddenly realised what we, at Write Out Loud, had long known: the genius, the genuineness, of poet and performer Tony, who started his career by reading at our events, and has become a worldwide phenomenon.”

Now, keen to include as many young people as possible, they are also holding a huge, UK-wide, primary schools’ poetry party.

The free-of-charge adult event will be broadcast live on Write Out Loud’s Facebook page from 7-9pm on Thursday 28th, with an open mic section as well – five slots of three minutes each.

Email matt@writeoutloud.net  to book a slot. It’s first come, first served basis.

Donations can be made – up to midnight on Sunday January 31 - at their Crowdfunder page, or the Write Out Loud website donations page.