Bangor Fund supports Y Llechan Visiting Writers series: Nurturing creative talent
The Bangor Fund supported the School of Arts, Culture and Languages in delivering the Y Llechan Visiting Writers series of literary readings and workshops. Enthusiastically received by the University’s emerging creative writers, the series offered a dynamic mix of formats and creative approaches. Across the programme, students had the opportunity to engage with a diverse group of acclaimed writers, each bringing a distinctive voice and perspective to the series.
The National Poet of Wales, Hanan Issa, who has recently received an honorary degree, gave an online reading in which she discussed her poetry with students, giving a sense of the professional contexts of writing for commission as part of a challenging public role.
Manchester-based poet Tom Jenks shared his data visualisation poems through a dynamic and often hilarious multimedia performance. As a noted small press publisher who recreates poems as objects, he also gave a participatory workshop for students on Zoë Skoulding's Experimental Writing module, encouraging them to think in new ways about the presentation and circulation of their work.
Hosted by Dr Fiona Cameron, Lecturer in Creative Writing, Lucie McKnight-Hardy discussed the short story as a vehicle for writing horror, inspiring several final-year students to write unnerving tales for the module Short Sharp Shocks, which were shared at the Creative Showcase just before graduation.
The series culminated in the visit of SJ Kim, whose penetrating creative non-fiction explores contemporary cross-cultural identities.
In discussion with Alys Conran, Senior Lecturer in Creative writing, novelist Megan Barker talked about the process of writing and the novel's overlaps with other art forms.
Zoë Skoulding, Professor of Poetry and Creative Writing said:
We are grateful to the writers for their willingness to share experiences and perspectives with our students, in some cases even keeping in touch with students after the event, and for encouraging them to feel part of a wider literary community. We are also extremely grateful to the alumni whose generous contributions have made these events possible through the Bangor Fund."
The Bangor Fund
The Bangor Fund is made up of alumni contributions and administered by the Development and Alumni Relations Office.
