Welcome to Katherine Gallagher's website.

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To contact me?
Readings in Australia

E: mail@katherine-gallagher.com
Tel: 020 8881 1418


Biography:
Katherine Gallagher is a widely-acclaimed poet with six books published as well as four chapbooks. Born in Australia, Gallagher has lived and worked in London since 1979. She has been an active force in the community, giving poetry readings, running workshops (for adults and children), judging poetry competitions, and participating in poetry festivals.
Her work has been widely reviewed, see Reviews. In addition, Gallagher has undertaken translations (from French) and her reviews of the work of other poets have been extensively published. Gallagher’s own poetry has been translated into French, German, Italian, Romanian, and Serbian.
More biographical details can be found on the Biography notes of this website.

News:

ABC’s POETICA Programme, 27th June, 2009: Katherine Gallagher’s poems are featured on the A.B.C’s POETICA programme on Radio National on 27th June, 2009 and repeated on the 2nd of July just after the 3pm news both days. To see the programme click on http://www.abc.net.au/rn/poetica/stories/2009/2519715.htm
Katherine is interviewed by Krystyna Kubiac.

ARTEMISpoetry: ARTEMIS poetry is an exhilarating new poetry magazine published by SLN Network. The general editors are Dilys Wood and Anne Stewart, now calling for submissions for Artemis 3 for which Katherine Gallagher is Poetry Editor. Details are as follows:
Poetry Submissions Deadline; 31 August 09. Women poets only, of any age.
Strict submission limit: a maximum of 4 poems; the total number of lines in all should not exceed 200 lines.
Two copies of each poem: A4 paper copy only, typed or neatly handwritten. Each numbered sheet to bear the poet’s contact details (name, address, telephone, email). Send to Dilys Wood, 9 Greendale Close, London, SE22 8TG.
Please write "ARTEMISpoetry 3" on your envelope.

New Collection: Katherine Gallagher’s next collection of poetry, titled Carnival Edge: New & Selected Poems (Arc Publications) is due out in February 2010.

Chester Literature Festival, 2009:
Katherine Gallagher will be reading her poems on October 10th in the Chester Festival, focusing this year on the theme of the circus.

Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival 2009: Katherine Gallagher’s haiku

was one of the Festival's Sakura Award winners this year.

Grant:
In December, 2008, Katherine Gallagher received a £2,000 grant from the Society of Authors, London, towards her New & Selected Poems.

Salisbury House Workshops:
Gallagher is leading 2 themed workshops (June 27 and September 12)at Salisbury House, Bury St. West, Edmonton. N.9.
Other workshops are led by June English (6 June), Myra Schneider (July 11) and Mandy Coe (October 3).

See Workshops.

Eleanor Brasch Enterprises
Gallagher’s collections Circus-Apprentice (2006) and Tigers on the Silk Road (2000) published by Arc Publications, UK (www.arcpublications.co.uk) are distributed in Australia by Eleanor Brasch Enterprises, PO Box 586, Artamon, NSW., 2064.
Email: brasch2@aol.com

www.poetryinternational.org
Details of Katherine Gallagher's poetry collections plus a selection of her poems by Editor, Michael Brennan, are now on the Australian section of www.poetryinternational.org.

Barnet Poetry Competition
The 2009 Competition was launched at the Bull Theatre, March 21, 2009. Katherine Gallagher is again judging the Junior Sections. (7 – 11, & 12 – 16s). Closing date:
November 16, 2009. Details and entry forms: http://www.barnetarts.org.uk

Foyle Young Poets of the Year Award 2009
This competition, judged by Selima Hill and Lemn Sissay, is open to writers between the ages of 11 and 17 inclusive before the closing date of 31 July 2009. Enter online at: www.foyleyoungpoets.org Address for snailmail entries: Foyle Young Poets of the Year Award 2009, The Poetry Society, 22 Betterton Street, London. WC2H 9BX.

Palmers Green Reading:
The next event in this series held at St. John’s, Palmers Green, N13, will take place on Saturday, 24th October. Guest poets are June English, Caroline Price, and John Whitworth. Readers from the floor. Wine and nibbles. 7.30 pm.

www.secondlightlive.co.uk
Second Light Network has a fantastic website: http://www.secondlightlive.co.uk.
It has been set up and administered by Anne Stewart who also runs the wide-ranging poetry p f site.
If you haven’t already logged on to poetry p f, do take a look. It is one of the most visited sites in the British poetry scene with details of over 100 poets (and growing), future reading events and workshops.
poetry p f also publishes very attractive poetry postcards on a wide range of themes. Prices are very reasonable.

pRO Translation Collaboration - National Tour.
As part of a series of events in a national tour, this translation collaboration published a bilingual anthology of poetry and translation (and optional CD recording of the poets and translators) from the poetry p f imprint.
The anthology called ’And the story isn’t over . . .’ was celebrated in a national tour beginning March 20 and ending on April 2.
Katherine Gallagher read on 30th March with her Romanian translator Elena Nistor, and also with Maggie Butt & Rik Wilkinson in a Translation Workshop, part of the above collaboration
Venue:
Middlesex University Literary Festival, Trent Park Campus, Bramley Road, London . N14 4YZ.

Launch of Circus-Apprentice
 
 
Launch: Katherine signing Circus-Apprentice - 20th October
Kwesi, Katherine, Ian at the launch at The Menzies Centre - 29th October

My new collection, Circus-Apprentice, was launched along with Joanna Boulter's book Twenty Four Preludes & Fugues on Dmitri Shostakovich by Arc Publications (www.arcpublications.co.uk) on October 20th, 2006 at Trinity United Reformed Church, Buck Street, London NW1 8NT.

There was another launch for Joanna and myself at the Lit. & Phil. Library in Newcastle-upon-Tyne on 24th October. It's an amazing place, next to the station.

The third event was on the 29th November at the Menzies Centre for Australian Studies, part of King's College London. The Menzies Centre is at the Melbourne Place end of Australia House. There were about 60 people there. Highlight of the evening was the sequence After Kandinsky, eleven poems inspired by Kandinsky paintings from his Bauhaus period, accompanied by Kwesi Edman (cello) and Ian Henderson (flute). Kwesi composed the music which was very well received. Certainly, poetry and music go together beautifully. Very exciting. Finally, Ian, Lecturer in Australian Literature, launched Circus-Apprentice, giving some fascinating insights into its focus on hybridity, landscape, exile and the cosmopolitan.



Events

COMING UP . . .
READINGS and WORKSHOPS

READINGS
Wednesday, 27th May – 7.15 pm.
Poetry Reading
Katherine Gallagher reads with Ann Drysdale & June English. Readers from the floor.
Venue: Poetry Café, 22 Betterton Street, London WC2.
Info: 020 8881 1418

Wednesday, 24th June – 7.15 pm.
Poetry Reading
Katherine Gallagher reads with Linda Rose Parkes & Anne Stewart. Readers from the floor.
Venue: Poetry Cafe, 22 Betterton Street, London. WC2.
Info: 020 8881 1418

Tuesday, 14th July – 7.15 pm.
Poetry Reading for the London North Stanza
Maggie Butt &Valerie Darville read their poetry.
Venue: Alexandra Park Library, Alexandra Park Road, N22.
Info: 020 8489 2700

WORKSHOPS

Workshop: Poetry & Voice

led by Katherine Gallagher

Dates: 2008-2009, London
Saturdays, 1.00 p.m. - 5.00 p.m.:
27th September25th October8th November24th January21st February
21st March18th April23rd May13th June 18th July

Wanting to develop your poetry-skills, explore your poetry 'voice'?
This workshop offers ways into writing poetry. Writing-exercises and constructive feedback. Practical criticism of existing work.
The emphasis is on tuning into ourselves and the poem, its particular shapes and rhythms. For new and experienced writers. Please bring 12 copies of your poem.

Venue:

Torriano, 99 Torriano Ave., Kentish Town, NW5. Kentish Town Tube.
Cost per session: £17 (£13 conc.) per day.

Pre-bookings and further details:


Poetry Workshops in beautiful 17th century Salisbury House

Three themed workshops looking at ways of transforming the autobiographical: explorations of voices and effects, the place of risk and new beginnings.

Date  Workshop Session  Time 
Saturday May 16  I write myself – transforming the autobiographical, other voices  12 – 6 pm 
Saturday June 27  Places: discovery and belonging, unexpected shifts  12 – 6 pm 
Saturday Sept 12  The eye of the storm: the poem as journey, hesitations  12 – 6 pm 

During these courses, we will look at a variety of ‘example’ poems and explore our own ideas, feelings and memories through writing exercises and constructive feedback. The workshop is for new and experienced writers.

Katherine Gallagher is a widely-published poet and experienced poetry tutor. She has four full-length collections of poetry, including Tigers on the Silk Road (Arc Publications, 2006) and Circus-Apprentice (Arc, 2006). Until recently, she was Writers Inc Education Officer. Circus-Apprentice was selected as Book of the Month (March 2007) on the Poetry Kit (www. poetrykit.org).

Penelope Shuttle on Circus-Apprentice – ‘. . strong, resourceful and varied
Patricia McCarthy (ed. Agenda) on Tigers on the Silk Road – ‘. . an impressive clarity and freshness of voice.

Venue: Bury St. West, Edmonton. N9. (329 bus from Wood Green tube)
Please bring a packed lunch. Fee: £30, £24 (concs.) Pre-booking essential

Pre-bookings and further details:


Workshop: Barnet Writers Workshop

led by Katherine Gallagher at Friends' House, Leicester Street, East Barnet, London. EN5.

Dates: 2008-2009, London
Wednesdays: 1.00 - 4.00 p.m. -- Monthly
Ways into Writing. For new and experienced writers.
Dates of next workshops:
17th September15th October12th November
14th January18th February18th March22nd April
13th May17th June15th July
Cost per session: £10

Pre-bookings and further details:

Contact Katherine Gallagher
N.B. PLEASE SEND ANY MAIL FOR ME TO MY PRIVATE ADDRESS:
49 Myddleton Road, Wood Green, London. N22 8LZ

AND NOT TO THE FRIENDS’ HOUSE.
Thanks.



Katherine Gallagher at the Stevie Smith Exhibition in Palmers Green Library, North London - September, 2002

Katherine presenting the Festival


I was co-organiser with Joanna Cameron, Palmers Green Bookshop, of the Stevie Smith Centenary Festival (13 - 22nd September, 2002). Poet Laureate Andrew Motion and Stephen Twigg, M.P., were patrons. Participants included Stevie's biographer, Frances Spalding, Elizabeth Maslen, and a range of poets - among them, John Horder, Mario Petrucci, Myra Schneider, Martyn Crucefix, John Killick, Cuban Redd and myself. I also gave a talk, 'Exile and the Dream of Nourishment' in relation to Stevie Smith's poetry. A highly memorable Festival.

See also the unveilling of Stevie Smith Blue Plaque.



Biographical Note

I am a widely-published Australian poet resident in London. My books include The Eye's Circle (Rigmarole, 1974), Passengers to the City (Hale & Iremonger, 1985), Fish-rings on Water (Forest Books, 1989), Finding the Prince (Hearing Eye Pamphlet Series, 1993), a translation of Jean-Jacques Celly's poems, The Sleepwalker with Eyes of Clay (Forest Books, 1994), Tigers on the Silk Road (Arc Publications, 2000), and After Kandinsky (Vagabond Press, 2005, Chapbook Rare Object Series).
My most recent collection Circus Apprentice (ISBN 1-4614-02-7) was published by Arc Publications in October 2006.
See http://www.arcpublications.co.uk
Tigers on the Silk Road is distributed in Australia by Fremantle Arts Centre Press through Penguin. Passengers to the City was shortlisted for the 1986 Australian National Poetry Award.
Winner of the 1981 Brisbane Warana Prize.
Until 2008, I was Writers Inc/Blue Nose Poets’ Education Officer but unfortunately, due to funding cuts, Writers Inc can no longer continue. From July - October, 2002, I was Writer in Residence at Railway Fields Nature Reserve, Harringay, London. N4.

In 2004-5, I co-ordinated on behalf of Writers Inc an Arts Council-funded Young Writers’ Mentorship Project to work in twelve secondary schools in the Boroughs of Barnet, Ealing, Enfield, Haringey and Islington. Other participating poets were Mario Petrucci whose idea it was originally and Sue Hubbard. The Project was very successful and showed the need for such one-to-one mentoring as a spur to fledgling writers for they rarely have such direct access to established writer-tutors.

On July 17, 2006, I was Poet in Residence for the third annual Parks and Arts Healthy Lifestyle Walk in Hornchurch Country Park, London Borough of Havering organised by their Parks, Arts and Regeneration Services.
Co-ordinated as an Arts Walk by Arts Officer Chris Cole, the idea was to use the Walk to celebrate walking and healthy eating.There were 50 participants under very sunny, clear skies. Part of my brief was to write a poem of the Walk to accompany the photographs, poems and reflections sent in by the participants. The poem was displayed as a poster in libraries and around the Borough and sent to local media.

In March, 2007, I started a Poetry Society Stanza Group around the Palmers Green-Southgate-Tottenham-Hornsey-Wood Green area. This was listed by the Poetry Society as the Palmers Green-Tottenham Stanza. However, due to the residential base of our membership's being different, we asked for it to be changed to London North. The Stanza meets to discuss poems and other matters on the first Friday of each month. It is proving very useful as a meeting point for the group’s various interests. In May, 2008, we had a Stanza reading at Wood Green’s Big Green Bookshop, with more to follow.



Interviews

Interview - March 2000 with Ted Slade for the Poetry Kit on http://www.poetrykit.org


Interview - January 2006 with Professor Lidia Vianu (University of Bucharest) on http://www.lidiavianu.scriptmania.com


Interview - February 2007 with Elena Nistor.
Published in Caiete Internationale de PoezieInternational Notebook of Poetry Nr. 8/2007. Poems in Translation: East and West Essays on Poets and Poetry.
This International Notebook is an annual publication sponsored by the Romanian Writers & Artists’ International Association – LiterArt - XXI
The interview is accompanied by 10 Poems from Circus-Apprentice translated into Romanian by Elena Nistor (Link to the magazine website to be added shortly).



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Contents updated on 26th May, 2009, London
Copyright Katherine Gallagher © 2000-2009