DRP Writers’ Retreat to be lead by Jamaica’s Poet Laureate
Jamaica’s current Poet Laureate, Professor Emeritus Mervyn Morris, OM will lead the Second Annual Drawing Room Project Writers’ Retreat, at the beautiful Liberty Hill Great House and Spa in Lime Hall, St. Ann, Jamaica. The purpose of the workshop is to create meaning from common human experiences. This follows a highly successful inaugural retreat in Highgate, St. Mary in 2014 with poet Christine Craig, which attracted poets from Jamaica, Puerto Rico, Canada and the United States and was widely supported. 
The JN Foundation has already confirmed their support for the staging of this year’s event under the theme art, culture and heritage.
The retreat will draw on St. Ann’s rich history and cultural heritage with expert talks on the local traditions of Jonkannoo, Mento and the Tainos, epitomizing their tag line Conversations in the Heart of St. Ann. As an additional treat, the venue will host a Sunday afternoon poetry reading event that will also showcase community craftspeople and artists. Professor Morris, workshop participants as well as local and upcoming poets will read their work on June 7 from 2:30 p.m. This will be free and open to the public and local residents will be especially welcome. For city dwellers, Jamaica Cultural Enterprises will arrange a day trip from Kingston for the occasion.
Registration for the Writers’ Retreat is now open online at http://drp.eventzilla.net/web/event?eventid=2139072811 and an early bird special runs until April 17, 2015. The cost of the retreat includes accommodation and meals for residency packages, however, there are also low residency options that do not include accommodation. This is specially to encourage persons in St Ann to attend. 2 such packages are being offered to students in the area in the form of scholarships. All selection is based on writing submissions.
The submission guidelines for the workshop are as follows:
Submit a writing sample of three poems by April 30, 2015, to drawingroomproject@gmail.com . Each poem should be no more than 25 lines and in Word Document or PDF format. Please include a cover page with contact information and a brief bio (75 words).
Mel Cooke reads in Brooklyn
If you are in Brooklyn, do go see Mel Cooke at the Brooklyn Public Library on April 25, 2015 at 3 p.m. as he joins Fred Moten and Tara Betts for a poetry reading.
IOJ Saturday Opening
The Institute of Jamaica will open its doors to the public on Saturday April 25, 2015 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Entry and tours are free of cost. Take the kids!
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