About this Event
Event start 5pm
Newcastle Civic Centre, Council Chamber
Brown Girls Write
Brown Girls Write is a creative writing workshop and safe space where women of colour come together to share and write.
They return to NOVUM to perform in the the Council Chamber, sharing their poetry, stories and spoken word.
You will hear from -
Janna Ajmal @janna_j4nn4
A visual artist turned poet, Janna explores the intersection of creativity and expression through her work. Drawing on her background in visual arts, she brings a unique perspective to the world of poetry, using words as a canvas to paint vivid images and evoke powerful emotions.
Mymona Bibi @wordsbymymona
A Bengali-British writer, creative workshop facilitator, and ESOL teacher based in Newcastle upon Tyne. Her writing has been featured in the Ilkley Literature Festival, Corridor8 and Lumpen Press. She’s a core member of the collective Brown Girls Write and has performed spoken word at events such as Read Them Your Writes, Out of Your Head, Newcastle Fringe Festival 2023 and NOVUM Festival 2023. Mymona’s writing explores topics of identity, home and trauma. Currently, her community work investigates how multilingualism and language learning affect epistemology and communication styles in marginalised communities.
Zoe-Marie Dobbs
A London native, Zoe-Marie is a versatile writer, curator, and costume professional. With degrees in English Literature and Museum Studies, she seamlessly combines her passions to craft compelling narratives that reflect her diverse experiences and cultural influences. Recently joining the writing collective brown girls write, Zoe-Marie aims to emotionally connect and inspire others through her work.
Safa Maryam @bysafamaryam
A poet and doctor from the North. Her work has been published by Dear Damsels, Mslexia, New Writing North, and Medical Women. She is a member of the collective Brown Girls Write, and has performed at Newcastle Fringe Festival, NOVUM Festival, Out Of Your Head and Waterstones Tottenham Court Road. She was a finalist in the 2022 Mslexia Poetry Competition judged by Helen Mort.
Ilisha Thiru Purcell @ilishadoespoetry
A poet from Newcastle upon Tyne, Ilisha is a dynamic force in the literary scene. She is part of the inaugural Poets of Colour Incubator Programme and was a Young Creative Associate with New Writing North. Ilisha won a commission to perform at the 2023 Newcastle Poetry Festival and was shortlisted for Nine Arches’ Primers Volume 7. Her work has appeared in publications such as Butcher’s Dog and Bi+ Lines Anthology. She is a member of Brown Girls Write who she performs with regularly.
About the Festival
After a fantastic first year, NOVUM is back on 8th-11th August 2024.
Incredible installations, free performances, local and internationally acclaimed live music acts, free workshops for families - there is something for everyone!
Also NEW for this year - Secret Cities, exploring the hidden and forgotten spaces of Newcastle via photography and poetry; and Thriple Threat, an original Breaking (breakdance) competition premiering as part of NOVUM 2024, celebrating Hip-Hop culture, community, and dance.
No tickets needed for installations, free performances and free family workshops - explore the full programme on our website at www.novumnewcastle.com
Event Venue & Nearby Stays
Civic Centre, Civic Centre, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
GBP 0.00
