Co-hosted by 198 Contemporary Arts and Learning and the George Padmore Institute
In the early 1980s, Michael Smith was seen as a rising star of Jamaican poetry, taking the UK by storm. Then he was suddenly killed in a political confrontation in his homeland. Forty years after his untimely death, London remembers this stellar wordsmith through a screening of the BBC Arena film Upon Westminster Bridge, which documents his visit to the capital. We see Michael Smith in his full poetic glory, equally at home reciting his Jamaican dub poetry or the English Romantic poets. After the screening, the accompanying panel discussion features Arena editor Anthony Wall, who made the film, as well as three poets of Caribbean heritage, Linton Kwesi Johnson (who also appears in the film), Hannah Lowe and Zena Edwards. There will also be a reading of a newly-commissioned poem inspired by the film, written and read by Helen Thomas.
198 is located at the junction between Railton Road and Hurst Street:
Train: Herne Hill
Tube: Brixton
Buses: 322, 196, 3, 37, 201, 68, 468 to Herne Hill
The building is accessible to wheelchair users with disabled and baby changing facilities
Your Local Arena is a Lucy Hannah & Speaking Volumes co-production
featuring BBC Arena’s film archive. Funded by Arts Council England.
Your Local Arena is a unique project featuring iconic films from the archives of BBC TV’s Arena, the pioneering cultural documentary series. It includes new poems inspired by the Arena films and panel talks to explore the continuing relevance of the Arena archives today.
The Your Local Arena is a unique project featuring iconic films from the archives of BBC TV’s Arena, the pioneering cultural documentary series. It includes new poems inspired by the Arena films and panel talks to explore the continuing relevance of the Arena archives today. The Your Local Arena concept was developed by Lucy Hannah and Speaking Volumes, with Arena’s award-winning director/editor Anthony Wall as creative consultant, and funded by Arts Council England.
The GPI is an independent charity (1003001), it is not associated with any other organisation. We rely on grants and individual donations to continue to preserve and make available the stories of many black and Asian communities. See details below for ways to make a donation.
PayPal
Pay via PayPal to the account info@georgepadmoreinstitute.org
Bank transfer
CAF Bank Account:
Sort Code: 40 52 40
Account No: 00035060
Email info@georgepadmoreinstitute.org to confirm bank transfer.
Cheques
Make out a cheque to George Padmore Institute and post to: 76 Stroud Green Road, London N4 3EN.
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