This year’s Folkestone Book Festival is postponed because of Covid19 but we are going digital with a brand new celebration of reading, writing and ideas called Autumn Reads.
As we welcome Prospect Cottage into Folkestone Artworks, we are focusing on Derek Jarman’s acclaimed journal Modern Nature. We’re inviting you to read the book and join us for an online festival of events, talks and workshops exploring ideas suggested by its form and content.
We’d like as many people as possible to take part by reading the book this Autumn – book clubs, discussion groups, bubbles and individuals. Our friendly Folkestone Book Festival Bookshop at Canterbury Christ Church University is kindly offering copies of Modern Nature at the discounted price of £7 (RRP £9.99). Click here to order your copy.
For Folkestone Reads : Modern Nature, we’re looking for 21 people local to Folkestone, Hythe and the Romney Marsh to take part in a film project charting the 21 months spanned by the journal from January 1989 to September 1990. Encompassing themes from gardening and plants to art, film, sexuality, pandemic, illness, and death, the book has an enduring resonance and seems particularly relevant our time.
Which month would you choose? What sentence, paragraph or journal entry has special meaning to you? We’re asking people who live locally to choose a short extract from the book, let us know why you’ve chosen it and where you’d like to be filmed reading or reciting the words – either in Folkestone, Hythe or on Romney Marsh. The location and artistic interpretation belong to you.
Folkestone film-maker, Clare Unsworth, will work with the 21 people selected to realise their vision and make a short film celebrating Modern Nature to be screened in November as part of Autumn Reads.
To take part, please email us your extract or an indication of the month, date, journal entry, and a short paragraph explaining why you have chosen this moment to louellaward@creativefolkestone.org.uk
Closing date for applications: 9am, Monday 21st September
Any questions? Contact Louella Ward louellaward@creativefolkestone.org.uk
We look forward to hearing from you.