2010 Bath Japanese Festival Info Page

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With Words (Alan Summers) and Rachel Carvosso of Tokyo Art Beat & Japan Editor for Bristol's The Love of It in Partnership with Bath Libraries;Nikki Bennett & Uni-Verse; Mr B's Emporium of Reading Delights;Writing Events Bath; Bath Royal Literary and Scientific Institution (fondly known as BRSLI); and International Haiku Spring Festival 2010(Akita, Northern Honshu, Japan) Present the 2010 Bath Japanese Festival featuring  Book Arts, Films, Haiku and Renga Love Japan? Love Books? Love Poetry? Love Films?  日本好き？本好き？詩が好き？そんなあなたはぜひ参加してね。 The Bath Japanese Festival will encompass a range of events and activities including Workshops in Book Making, Haiku and Origami, Live Poetry Performances and Open Mic session and Film Night Bath Japanese Festival はイギリスのバスで5/12-5/23に行われるアートイベント。絵本作りや俳句、折り紙などのワークショップから、ポエトリーリーディングのパフォーマンス、映画上映など、様々なジャンルに渡るジャパニーズアートを紹介します。 The story so far...  In 2009 Inspired by a love of book arts and Japanese Culture  Rachel Carvosso of Tokyo Art Beat worked with Book Artist and Arts event organizer Lorna Crabbe to produce a show of Japanese Artists work in the U.K. The show, titled `Omiyage` (referring in Japanese to a gift given following a trip) included video, book arts, illustration and drawings from well known and emerging Japanese artists/illustrators including Chikara Matsumoto and Nobumasa Takahashi. Running throughout September 2009 as part of the Coastal Currents Festival in Hastings. Earlier that year, while attending an Art Conference in New York she had the good fortune of being able to view the Young Japanese Book Art Fair run by Tokyo based Gallery Peppers and meet poet Gary Glazner of the Bowery Poetry Club. Inspired by these connections, she yet again was fortuitously put in touch with Alan Summers, founder/director of With Words by poet organizer and collaborator Simon Leake. Thanks to the social network site Facebook, despite the separation of thousands of miles, together they came up with the idea of a Japanese Festival to be held in the beautiful and historic city of Bath located south west of London city.  Rachel and Alan are working in collaboration with Bath Libraries; Uni-Verse; and International Haiku Spring Festival 2010: Akita, Northern Honshu, Japan. What is it? It is a festival aimed at the general public, designed to give people an opportunity to participate in and enjoy Japanese inspired and created cultural forms. Over the two weeks there will be workshops in Haiku, Renga, Book making and Origami as well as a host of events. Events will take place in various locations throughout Bath (and Bristol) and will be supported by an internet project organised by theloveofit `s Jo Tinsley and an online Haiku Competition (coming soon) In addition Rachel and Alan share a passion for the Arts and Social Justice, Alan is involved with an African charity and has worked alongside Nairobi poets, while Rachel is currently researching how the Arts can be used therapeutically and preventively with women and children at risk or involved with Human Trafficking. Their hope is that the Festival will raise awareness of these issues. The Magic Lantern film screening will showcase short pieces from Japanese artists and film makers including  Jitensha (Bycycle) which has been a selection of a number of film festivals including the Venice Film Festival and the Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival. It received the “Vision Award for Best Short Film” from the Heartland Film Festival.  Poetry readings and evening open mic event.  Talks related to Anti-Human Trafficking campaigns and initiatives. Workshops in Haiku/Renga, Book Making and Origami. When is it? We are happy to announce that the Festival with run from May 12th - 23rd 2010 in various locations throughout Bath (and Bristol). Where is it? Bath is located in the South West of the U.K close to Bristol and about an hour from London.   How do I get involved? In addition to attending the festival there are online opportunities for those who can`t make it, including... An online Haiku  competition at this web site and Origami Web Project at theloveofit.co.uk details coming soon...!