Georgia Hemmings, Staff Reporter
TWO WRITERS from the United Kingdom are currently in Jamaica on a one-month exchange programme.
Adrian Kenny, an established novelist, and Linda Kempton, a children's writer, are being hosted by the Institute of Jamaica, one of the partners in the Island Voices international writers exchange programme.
The project is a partnership between the institute and the East Midlands Arts Council in Britain.
Clover Johnston, public relations officer at the institute, told The Sunday Gleaner that the project is "an exchange of writers between Jamaica and East Midlands."
However, in recent times the sponsorship base of the programme has been widened, and it now includes funding from the European Union (EU). As a result, the programme has been extended to embrace writers from Ireland and Iceland, considered as islands within the EU.
Simple plan
The structure of the programme is simple, two writers from East Midlands visit Jamaica for a one or two month residency, with a return visit by two Jamaicans for a similar time. It was first developed in 1993 to foster exchange between the two cultures, as well as provide experience for the writers themselves.
In September 1993, English writer Annie Dalton and poet Wolde Selassie, born in Dominica and living in Leicester, arrived in Jamaica. Local playwright Stafford Ashani and poet Mbala were the first Jamaicans to travel abroad on the programme in late 1994.
By 1996, Russel Watson, a Barbadian graduate in drama from the Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts (EMCVPA), and poet Melvina Hazard had travelled to England, with the return leg undertaken by Richard Pinner and Chester Morrison in January 1997.
Between October and December last year, dub poet Marcia Wedderburn (also called Cherry Natural), visited East Midlands, to be followed by Mr. Kenny and Mrs. Kempton this year.
While here, the two writers will participate in a series of workshops, talks and readings. Their planned itinerary includes performances at the Edna Manley College for the Visual and Performing Arts' lunch hour concert at the Sir Philip Sherlock Centre, a visit to the Bob Marley Cultural Yard, workshops at schools and teachers' colleges, as well as a special conference organised by the Ministry of Education and Culture in Mandeville.
Cultural writing
It is also planned that a portion of their time will be allocated to personal writing, allowing them to draw upon their new cultural environment. But, so far, with the whirlwind nature of their activities, they have not been able to draw upon this personal time.
"I am due to keep a daily diary for my report back home, and already I am behind on this," Mrs. Kempton told The Sunday Gleaner in a recent interview.
But the two have been enjoying the exchange experience so far.
"We've found Jamaicans to be friendly and generous, and several persons have invited us into their homes", said Mrs. Kempton. "I have not been able to draw breath since my arrival."
Mrs. Kempton is an experienced workshop leader, who recently finished a seven-year period as a lecturer at the University of Derby. Her background has enabled her to participate in the various workshops, readings, formal and informal encounters with Jamaican writers.
This interaction has revealed several cultural differences. Yet, despite the differences, Mrs. Kempton believes that the experience will benefit her as a writer.
"It might not be now, for our craft is not as instantaneous like a photographer or a painter." she said. "But somewhere along the line, I know something of this Jamaican experience will come out in my work."
'Eye-opener'
For Mr. Kenny, "the experience is quite an eye-opener as far as culture is concerned. There are quite a lot of differences, but they only serve to wake you up out of the insularity of your own life at home."
During the past week, the two participated in an intensive programme of activities in Westmoreland, which included performances and conferencing at the Savanna-la-Mar Primary, Godfrey Stewart High and Petersfield High schools, as well rap sessions at the public library.
Ms. Johnston told The Sunday Gleaner that the recruitment of writers for the exchange is usually done by advertisement. Participants are expected to have some degree of success within their chosen genre, preferably with published works.
"For them, therefore, the exchange will represent a significant stage in their writing careers, as opposed to a starting point," Mrs. Johnston explained.
The visiting writers are also expected to give readings and perform for audiences, be well-organised, and be prepared to work irregular hours when necessary.
