With World Cup season now upon us, Apples and Snakes' WordCup has made its way south.

In Leeds, Coventry, London, Thurrock, Burnley, Southampton, and Bristol, a Poet Coach and an Assistant Poet Coach are delivering sessions with young people aged 13–16, bringing together a team of eight who will represent the UK at an unforgettable festival weekend in London (10th–12th July). All teams will come together to share work, celebrate and perform on a world-class stage at the Southbank Centre as part of Southbank Poetry International.

Antosh Wojcik and Han Newton are supporting students from OASIS Academy Mayfield in Southampton to get them ready for this event. To find out more about WordCup or Apples and Snakes, please click here 

Throughout May and June, ArtfulScribe also delivers the annual Southampton Inter-School Poetry Celebration with the aim of supporting young people to develop their creative voices, build confidence in self-expression, and take part in a local showcase at our home in Mayflower Studios on the 1st of July.
 
Participating schools include: Hounsdown, Romsey, Regents Park Community College, Applemore, and Testwood.

ArtfulScribe are offering free 1:1 mentoring sessions with Artistic Director Matt West or Executive Director Bridget Floyer

This mentoring is offered in the spirit of support to writers and other creatives working in literature or writing based in or near the Solent area (Hampshire, Dorset, Isle of Wight and Salisbury), particularly those seeking to develop their writing practice or work with communities.

To find out more and book a mentoring session, please click here 

Literature development is an essential part of Artfulscribe's work, and we are proud to support the National Year of Reading. This national campaign is designed to help more people rediscover the joy of reading, highlighting how together, we can help transform the nation's attitude to reading, with the ability to expand minds, build confidence and fuel creativity. 

This year, as part of the NYR programme, Southampton Library Service is looking to run creative writing workshops for disadvantaged families, in particular young boys aged 10-16, with a focus on music or sport. 

If you would like to be considered for this opportunity, please send a relevant CV and cover letter detailing your interest and why you'd be a good match for this work to matt@artfulscribe.co.uk.

To find out more about the National Year of Reading, please click here

Write a Note, in association with ArtfulScribe, is an open mic platform celebrating poetry, spoken word, and live literature.

Usually taking place at Mayflower Studios, this month, however, Write a Note will be hosted online.

Designed to connect writers and performers with new audiences, this open mic offers an accessible, welcoming, and supportive environment, perfect for trying out new work or refining the delivery of existing material.

To find out more or to book a ticket, please click here 

VEX Spoken Word Collective - Writing Group | 11 June | 7:00pm | Ventnor Exchange 11 Church Street, Isle of Wight 

Rap & Creative Writing Workshop - Creative Writing | 14 June | 1pm - 3pm | God's House Tower, Town Quay Road SO14 2NY

Write a Note - Open Mic | 15 June | 7:45pm | Online 

Play on Words Open Mic - Open Mic | 15 June | 8:00pm | Forest Arts Centre, Old Milton Road, New Milton, BH25 6DS

October Books Poetry Open Mic Night with Special Guest Rich Lansley - Open Mic | 19 June | 7:00pm - 9:00pm | October Books, Portswood Road, SO17 2NF

New SaRhyme - Open Mic | 23 June | 7:30pm | Upstairs at the Pheasant Inn, 19 Salt Lane, Salisbury SP1 1DT 

Marc Brightside Poetry Book Launch - Event | 27 June | 6:30pm | October Books, Portswood Road, SO17 2NF

And There It Was...For the Curious - Free monthly creative writing group | 2nd Wednesday of the month | 7:30pm - 8:45pm | InFocus Network Eagle Lab, Portland Terrace, Southampton SO14 7SJ

Winchester Poetry Prize  | Submissions close Friday 31 July 

Bournemouth Writing Prize  | Submissions close 15 August 

Bards! - Open Mic | First Thursday of the month | 7:00pm | The Bounty Inn, Basingstoke, RG21 2BZ | No booking required