Free Word

On 15 June 2016, Free Word, in partnership with Index on Censorship, presented a panel discussion on the future of freedom in Europe with cultural figures from Hungary, Poland and Turkey.

This event featured philosopher Agnes Heller (Hungary); novelist Elif Shafak (Turkey), who has written on Europe for Free Word and writes for the Guardian on the political situation in Turkey; and poet Adam Zagajewski (Poland), author of ‘A defence of ardour’.

The event also featured a performance by Alix Alixandra, a spoken word artist, who performed her poem 'Freedom'.

This event is part of Unravelling Europe: https://www.freewordcentre.com/explore/projects/unravelling-europe

On 13 June 2016, Walker Books presented the imaginative adventure story 'The Book of Pearl' at Free Word Centre.

We welcomed its internationally acclaimed author, Timothée de Fombelle, who was in conversation with his translators Sarah Ardizzone and Sam Gordon to discuss his journey in creating the story, and theirs in bringing it to life in English. This event was chaired by Joy Court.

Wanderlust: Great Literature from Around the World is a monthly event series at Free Word.

To explore the Wanderlust events we’ve held so far and read about (and around) some of the books we’ve featured, click here: https://www.freewordcentre.com/explore/projects/wanderlust

How can we translate scent into words and vice versa? Our Translator in Residence, Marta Dziurosz, hosted this fragrant evening all about the most elusive sense.

Participants also had the chance to try their hand at a spot of creative writing; we provided fragrant substances to inspire them to “translate” these scents into prose or poetry.

On 19 May 2016, Free Word welcomed Polish visual artist Monika Szydłowska to talk about her new comic collection 'Do You Miss Your Country?' that evokes a whole spectrum of the immigrant experience.

Monika was joined in conversation by Sarah Lightman, an artist, writer and curator, and co-founder and co-director of the Laydeez do comics collective.

Across 14 - 15 May 2016, TippingPoint and Free Word brought together writers and climate change experts to explore one of the most politically relevant and urgent issues of our time.

This recording provides audio from the second day of the event.

Weatherfronts is part of Living Dangerously: https://www.freewordcentre.com/explore/themes/living-dangerously-stories-of-climate-change

Across 14 - 15 May 2016, TippingPoint and Free Word brought together writers and climate change experts to explore one of the most politically relevant and urgent issues of our time.

This recording provides audio from the first day of the event.

Weatherfronts is part of Living Dangerously: https://www.freewordcentre.com/explore/themes/living-dangerously-stories-of-climate-change

On 8 June 2016, we welcomed award-winning Jamaican writer Diana McCaulay to talk about her new book 'Gone to Drift', a powerful story of one boy’s discoveries about the planet we call home.

Diana was in conversation with Guardian Children’s Fiction Prize winner Piers Torday, author of 'The Last Wild Trilogy'.

How do you tell stories that draw children into an understanding of the threatened planet we inhabit? How do you engage as you educate and empower? Diana and Piers discussed the challenges at this event.

Fariba Hachtroudi, a writer, former journalist, and civil rights activist, talked to us about her favourite word: 'conviction'.

On 9 May 2016, we welcomed French-Iranian journalist and civil rights activist, Fariba Hachtroudi, to Free Word Centre to discuss her novel 'The Man Who Snapped His Fingers'.

Fariba was joined in conversation by award-winning author, Alex Preston, for a discussion on power, memory, and the way books can help us build bridges across cultures.

Wanderlust: Great Literature from Around the World is a monthly event series at Free Word.

To explore the Wanderlust events we’ve held so far and read about (and around) some of the books we’ve featured, click here: https://www.freewordcentre.com/explore/projects/wanderlust

On 4 May 2016, Quilliam Foundation, in collaboration with Free Word, presented an evening of rhyming, rapping and rhythm about radicalisation, race, Islamic State, integration, stereotypes and the story of us.

This event featured performances from Anthony Anaxagorou, Joelle Taylor, Adam Kammerling and Kareem Parkins-Brown. Rafiq Richards provided comedy, and the evening was compered by Moj Taylor.

Part of Unravelling Europe: http://buff.ly/28PQUk3