Narrating the Caribbean Nation:

A Celebration of Literature and Orature

Peepal Tree Press are proud to announce the Narrating the Caribbean Nation: A Celebration of Literature and Orature. The conference will be held in April 2012 to celebrate the Silver Anniversary of Peepal Tree Press through highlighting its own authors and other significant Caribbean and Black British authors making a contribution to this body of work. Peepal Tree Press are working in partnership with Leeds Metropolitan University (Faculty of Arts, Environment and Technology, and the Carnegie Research Institute) to celebrate this event.
 
The aim of the conference is to provide a space for academics, specialists and other people interested in the field of Caribbean literature to come together, share and discuss, amongst other topics, how the writing of the past twenty-five years connects and relates to the foundational and classic texts of Caribbean writing; and how issues of nation, region and diaspora, gender, ethnic, cultural, and sexual identities, connect within the Caribbean whole. Further, it aims to explore the relationship between writing in the Caribbean and Black British writing of Caribbean heritage, as well as offering an opportunity to hear new writers, and to watch them in performance.

The conference aims to encompass enough scope for academic interest though will also offer space for less formal presentations to raise the profile and create a heightened awareness of Caribbean writers and their work. The conference will be of interest to people from the Caribbean, people interested in Caribbean literature, and encourage new readers to this body of work. The conference gives Leeds based Peepal Tree Press, the foremost publisher of Caribbean literature, a platform to showcase new and classic works in print and in performance from its authors around the world.

(ALL EVENTS CAN BE BOOKED INDIVIDUALLY)

Friday 13 April
Title: Caribbean Modern Classics Creative Writing Workshop with Curdella Forbes, based around
the work of Edgar Mittelholzer
Location: (off site event) Chapeltown Library, Reginald Centre, LS7
Time:2.30-4.30pm
FREE 
Limited places. Book through the library on:0113 336 7683 

Friday 13 April
Title: Caribbean Modern Classics Reading
Location: (off site event) Chapeltown Library, Reginald Centre, LS7
Time:5-6.30pm
(A series of readings from the Modern Caribbean Classics series)
More details to follow (visit the Peepal Tree website and download the programme for full details where it is continually updated)

Saturday 14 & Sunday 15 April
Title: Narrating the Caribbean Nation: A Celebration of Literature and Orature
Location:  Leeds Met Uni
Keynote Speaker: Kwame Dawes
Time: 9.00am-5pm

A full day of panels and presentations on Caribbean and Black British literature and culture
More details to follow (visit the Peepal Tree website and download the programme for full details where it is continually updated)

Saturday 14 April
Title:Caribbean Word Buffet
Location: Space@Hillcrest, Cowper Street, Leeds, LS7 4DR
Performances and readings from International visiting guest writers and local writers
+ Acoustic music set from Royal Blood
+ Jamaican cuisine
Time: 7pm
More details to follow (visit the Peepal Tree website and download the programme for full details where it is continually updated)

Monday 16 April
Title: The Heart of It:Blackgay and Blacklesbian writers
Launch of Seni Seneviratne's new poetry collection, The Heart of It, plus a rare opportunity to hear dynamic LGBTQ writers read together in Leeds. 
The evening will also feature, Thomas Glave, Anton Nimblett, Dorothea Smartt and Rommi Smith.  Location: (off site event) Waterstones, 93-97 Albion Street, Leeds, LS1 5JS 
Time:6.30-8.30pm
FREE 
Limited places. Register through this page on Eventbrite

Tuesday 17 April
Title: Read the book, Meet the Author
Anton Nimblett, author of Sections of an Orange is the guest author for the Chapeltown reading group.
Location: (off site event) Chapeltown Library, Reginald Centre, LS7
Time:5.30-7pm
FREE & OPEN TO ALL
Limited places. Book through the library and find out about the reading group on:0113 336 7683

Detailed programme can be found on the Peepal Tree website

www.peepaltreepress.com

Refund Policy
For full  details contact:Narratingnation@gmail.com
In brief: No refund on session tickets. For All other tickets, cancellation charges apply within 28 days of event
Booking fees cannot be refunded.

Hotel Information

PARK PLAZA

Telephone: +44 (0) 113 380 4000

      Minimum 3 Night Stay (13^th/14^th & 15^th) - £69.00 per night including Breakfast & VAT.

    Minimum 2 Night Stay (13^th/14^th or 14^th/15^th) - £72.00 per night including Breakfast & 

    VAT.

   1 Night Stay (14^th) - £85.00 including Breakfast & VAT.

  These rates are based on the Superior Category room

To obtain the special rate:

·         Reservations must be booked with the In-house Team by calling 0113 380 4000 (Office open Monday to Friday 09:00 to 18:00 gmt) or by emailing pplres@pphe.com.

·         Guests will need to provided their requested dates and quote
“Narrating The Caribbean Nation Rate”

              ·   A credit card number and expiry date will be required in order to guarantee reservations; rooms can be amended and cancelled free of charge up to 14:00 on the day of arrival.

Please book early. The hotel can only guarantee these rates until 15 March 2012.
If you have any difficulty in making a reservation after this date, please contact

narratingnation@gmail.com

www.parkplaza.com/Leeds

ALTERNATIVE HOTEL OPTIONS

Alternative accommodation in Leeds.

Leeds - City Centre (a walk from Leeds Met Uni, our Conference venue) :

Discovery Inn Leeds

Bishopgate St., Leeds, LS1 5DY, England

approx £60 per night

https://www.centralr.com/check_availability_hotel6.asp?RE=1&hid=502&item=3&lid=1

Hotel ibis Leeds Centre

23 Marlborough Street , LEEDS LS1 4PB -

Tel.: (+44)113/2204100

approx £59 per night

http://www.ibishotel.com/gb/hotel-3652-ibis-leeds-centre/index.shtml

Leeds – a little further out from the centre:

Travelodge, Leeds Central Vicar Lane Hotel

97 Vicar Lane, Leeds LS1 6PJ

Tel: 0871 984 6337*

from £39 per night

http://www.travelodge.co.uk/hotels/323/Leeds-Central-Vicar-Lane-hotel/rooms-rates?&default=1

Ascot Grange Hotel
126-130 Otley Road, Headingley, Leeds
LS16 5JX
Tel: 0113 293 4444 or 0113 293 6666   Email: ascotgrangehotel@hotmail.com

from £31 per night

http://www.ascotgrangehotel.com/rooms.html

Park House Bed And Breakfast

348 Dewsbury Road Leeds
LS11 7BD

Tel: 0843 646 2574 or  +44 113 2773706 or 07833310465

approx £28per night

http://www.iknow-yorkshire.co.uk/accommodation/4513-park_house_bed_and_breakfast_-_leeds.htm

The B&B options require transportation to the conference venue

Please direct all queries to:narratingnation@gmail.com

 https://www.facebook.com/events/361021243928397/