Spoken Word Event: Writing our Dreams & Singing our Songs

Join us at a finale event to close the exhibition Dreams and Songs to Sing showcasing talented Gypsy and Traveller writers and story makers, performing their written work in the beautiful gallery surroundings.

We will be joined by writers and poets who will perform in the gallery.

Jo Clement

Author of award-winning poetry collection Outlandish.  Find out more  here. You can follow her at @_dodo on X and @joclemwriter on Instagram.

Chelsea McDonagh

Senior Researcher, writer & ambassador Chelsea McDonagh will represent the all-women writing group “Write into Culture” founded by Dee Cooper and Lisa Smith (@writeintoculture) on Instagram.

The collective is made up of Gypsy and Traveller women all over the country.

Recent productions include, “Sisters in Solidarity” & Romany nights. Chelsea will be sharing other pieces from Write into Culture group members, as well as recorded versions of other writers works being shared.

Find her on X as @Chelsmacdonn on Twitter.

Violet Cannon

CEO of York Travellers Trust, author of best-selling biography Gypsy Princess will read from the book plus some of her own poetry! Violet is Bradford born and bred, and has dedicated her life to advocating and working for change with and for Gypsy and Traveller communities all over the UK.

Violet’s biography Gypsy Princess is a searingly honest account of what life is really like for Traveller communities, for girls in particular and a breathtaking true story of a Romany childhood.

Bernard Cunningham 

Bernard is a peer support worker at Leeds Gypsy and Traveller Exchange passionate about supporting Gypsy and Traveller mental health within his community. Raised living roadside, Bernard’s work encompasses all the beauty of these communities and way of life as well as it’s challenges and struggles.

This event has been organised in collaboration with Leeds Gypsy and Traveller exchange Leeds GATE

Free to attend, but please let us know you are coming by emailing rsvpcartwrighthall@bradford.gov.uk or calling 01274 431212