HomeWord Festival 2006
HomeWord 2006 was officially launched by Parramatta City Council's Lord Mayor, David Borger on Saturday, 2nd September at Riverside Theatres. Our patron, Julie Owens MP and Councillor Andrew Wilson also joined the audience. NWG Inc loves to organise events that celebrate word-based creativity. For HomeWord we collaborate with other cultural and community groups in a program of forums, workshops, a poetry slam and performances from song-writers, poets, and other writers.
HomeWord Festival 2006 CALENDAR
State Library Poetry Slam Finals
Thurs 7 Dec 6:30pm State Library of NSW, Macquarie St Sydney
"Congrats to Melbournian Geoff Lemon who won the Slam Final which featured performances from host Miles Merrill, and poetry boy band The Bracket
Creeps - the sacrificial poets for 2006! NWG Inc's Andy Petith (left) and Matt Black were among the finalists.
See Pics FLICKR
and report FunkRandomEcho
Mars Hill Cafe, HomeWord Heat of 2006 State Library Poetry Slam
OneWord became HomeWord for one night only on Friday November 24,
when the State Library hosted the Parramatta heat of its 2nd annual Poetry Slam. Contestants were given just two minutes
to wax lyrical on a topic of their choice at the slam on
Winner was the amazing Colonel Funtastico, runner-up NWG Inc's
Matt Black. They both go into the finals, see details above. Congratulations!
As usual, no music or props were allowed.
NWG Inc's Vice-President Nathan Judd emceed the heat
(one of three city heats of the State Library Slam), with special guest Citizen Tom - see
Bios - Poetry Slam.
The two winners from the heat, Colonel Funtastico and NWG Inc's Matthew Black will progress to the final at the State Library on
Thurs 7 Dec 6:30pm State Library of NSW, Macquarie St Sydney where they will go
in the running for $1000 in prizes. In an exciting twist, city contestants will also go up against contestants from
the country in 2006. Many thanks to our special guest performers Daniel Hopkins
and Leroy Lee, high energy band Northwalk, and dancers from the
Amaranth Belly Dance Troupe who also entertained the crowd.
Venue: Mars Hill Cafe ("where the thinkers drink") 331 Church St Parramatta (opposite Brand Smart)
See
Bios - Poetry Slam for more information on our artists.
Details: Miles Merrill, 0439 482 395 or milesmerrill@bigpond.com.
RIVERSIDE THEATRES, Parramatta Saturday, 2nd September, 2006:
1. Poems In Conversation With Each Other, Raffertys Theatre, 12.30pm-2pm
By invitation Poet's Union presents six leading poets: Margaret Bradstock, Joanne Burns,
Kerry Leves, David Musgrove, Jenni Nixon and Louise Wakeling. See Biographies for details. Free entry but registrations recommended: 0406 665 386
2. Forum: Politics & Art, Lennox Theatre, 2.15-4.15pm
Western Sydney celebrity Tim Brunero (Big Brother runner-up 2005, & The Chaser blogger) will facilitate
this public forum exploring politics in literature and word-based art. Panellists include internationally
renowned multi-media artist Fida Haq of Carlingford, who will present an innovative word-based presentation
featuring text of the NWG Inc, and celebrated Australian poet Jennifer Maiden from Penrith. Free entry.
3. Poetry Slam Heat, Courtyard, 4.30-6.30pm
Lil Scully, president of NWG Inc, will co-host this poetry slam with spoken word maestro Miles Merrill. The slam will be
a heat of the
Poet's Union Slam Series.
Poets, hip hop artists and performers of all levels and ages are invited to compete for prizes, and a chance to move
on to the Final (date TBA). Free for audience members. (Contestants pay $5 entry to competition)
Riverside Theatres is at the corner of Church and Market Street, Parramatta.
For your convenience, the bar will be made available throughout the day.
PARRAMATTA WORKSHOPS on Saturday, 9th September, 2006:
Parramatta Library, Civic place
-
Film Class (for 16 years and over) with director/producer/writer Dianne Ellis
and professional camera operator Adrian Viglianti
Time: 9:30-3:30pm
Cost: $15 Only! Bookings recommended, Ph:0406 665 386 -
Free Kids' Cartooning Workshop (for 12-16 yr olds)
with Roger Fletcher, Sunday Telegraph cartoonist and creator of Staria
Time: 10am-Noon
Free but registrations recommended, Ph:0406 665 386
Parramatta Town Hall, Church St Mall
- 'Stage Technique' with Parramatta Breakfast Toastmasters
Time: 9:15-10:45 am -
'Songwriting' with professional recording artist Stewart Peters
Time: 11:00-12:30 pm -
'Making Words Come Alive' with author/academic Jane Goodall from the University of Western Sydney's
Writing and Research Group
Time:12:45-2:15 pm -
'Creative power and personal growth' with writer/teacher Leigh Scully
Time: 2:30-3:45
PERFORMANCE DAY on Saturday, Mars Hill Cafe 16th September, 2006
A special edition of our usual fortnightly gathering! Singer/song-writer Stewart Peters and Songwriting Society of
Australia President, Peter Scully will MC this event featuring the Western Fringe Song-writers Network
and NWG Inc performers - by arrangement, contact: Stewart
Time: 3-7pm at Mars Hill Cafe, 331 Church St Parramatta
Free entry
FREE ARTWORK DISPLAY at Parramatta Library, September 1-15
Internationally published Children's Illustrator and NWG Inc member
Dion Hamill will exhibit artwork from his recent books in the library's
mezzanine showcases.
Times: Library hours - Monday to Friday, 9:30am-8pm; Saturday, 9:30am-4pm; Sunday, 2pm-5pm
"Artistic Licence"
A forum on "Artistic Licence" was our first HomeWord Festival 06 event held at Riverside Theatres
on the 31st May in collaboration with Sydney Writers Festival and Parramatta City Council.
Our excellent debators
were:
Jayne Dyer (guest artist for SWF),
Stewart Peters (singer-songwriter),
Fida Haq (multi-media artist) and
Tim Martin ("Infinitas" Speculative Fiction bookshop).
The panel was convened by Lil Scully, President of NWG Inc.
Image: Jayne Dyer #4
For details about panelists, see our
Bios Page
HomeWord 2006 PROMO (9.80 MB) courtesy of Parramatta Filmmakers
NWG Inc is very grateful to our generous 2006 sponsors who supported us by carrying our flyers and donating prizes.
They are:
PSC Clothing Parramatta;
Member Clothing;
Greater Union Parramatta;
ABC Shop Parramatta;
The Laugh Garage Parramatta
"Words are the basis of most forms of cultural and artistic expression and there are many people and groups living in Western Sydney who write for a profession, who aspire to tell the stories of their urban reality, who create and perform songs, poems, films, and much more," Isabell Petrinic, Co-ordinator 2006.