For the past 20 years, Rich has worked in the same inner-city Further Education college, teaching English language to 16-19 yr olds from refugee or migrant backgrounds.
In 2008 he started Nottingham Stanza, which, allegedly, is the longest-running contemporary poetry reading group in the U.K.
In 2013 he started Word Jam
In 2012 he completed a practice-based Doctorate in Writing (Poetry), also at NTU, under Prof. Gregory Woods.
Poetry - and teaching Creative Writing - is his passion. But he's also quite nerdy about music (world, jazz, alt-rock, experimental), likes wild swimming, running, foraging, cooking, and is inspired by Queer Theory, travelling and contemporary art. In February 2014 he began training in Soto Zen Buddhism, with the Order of Buddhist Contemplatives. Through his job, and through Word Jam, which he founded in 2013, he's involved in refugee arts, refugee writing and intercultural education.
In 2008 he started Nottingham Stanza, which, allegedly, is the longest-running contemporary poetry reading group in the U.K.
In 2013 he started Word Jam
In 2012 he completed a practice-based Doctorate in Writing (Poetry), also at NTU, under Prof. Gregory Woods.
Poetry - and teaching Creative Writing - is his passion. But he's also quite nerdy about music (world, jazz, alt-rock, experimental), likes wild swimming, running, foraging, cooking, and is inspired by Queer Theory, travelling and contemporary art. In February 2014 he began training in Soto Zen Buddhism, with the Order of Buddhist Contemplatives. Through his job, and through Word Jam, which he founded in 2013, he's involved in refugee arts, refugee writing and intercultural education.
Publications
See the page 'Poems' for poems published in magazines.
2 poems 'Daniel Craig: The Screensaver' and 'Reading Miroslav Holub...' published in the Penguin Poetry of Sex, ed. Sophie Hannah (Viking hardback, January 2014 and Penguin paperback 2015)
'Reading Miroslav Holub...' also published in the anthology Queer Episodes (Little Episodes, April 2013).
'Towards a Queer Poetics: Reflections on a Doctorate in Creative Writing', an essay in the NAWE journal Writing in Education, Summer 2013.
'Heroes: From Mum to Mandela' (Five Leaves, November 2012). Rich wrote part of the introduction and was co-editor of this anthology of young people's poems and stories, the culmination of the Heroes project (see below).
Writing Tutor Work:
June '14 - June '15 - one-to-one mentor for poet Josh Judson (Mouthy Poets)
Sep '13 - March '15 - Facilitator / Workshop leader for the poetry group at Nottingham Writers' Studio.
August 7th 2014 - one-off workshop 'Poetry for Beginners' at Nottingham Writers' Studio.
Sep '13 - Jan '14 Course leader with Jane Bluett of 'Intermediate Poetry' at Nottingham Writers' Studio.
Sep '12 - Jun '13 Course leader of 'Creative Writing for ESOL students' at Central College, Nottingham.
May '12 – Jun ‘12 Writing Tutor for ‘Heroes’, a Creative Writing project for 16-19yr olds whose first language is not English, organised by Nottingham Writers' Studio with funding from The Clore Foundation.
Nov '07 - May '08 Lecturer in Creative Writing (sessional) at Nottingham Trent University.
Sep ‘99 – Jun ‘00 Creative Writing Tutor at Lowdham Grange Category ‘B’ Prison.
Sep ‘98-Jun ‘99 Creative Writing Tutor for sixth formers at Nottingham High School.
Performances:
- 'Aurora Writing Competition' prize giving, Bromley House Library, Nottingham, 28/4/16 ('Pine' was chosen by Pascale Petit as the winner of the Stonewood Prize)
- 'Poetry Wired', Wired Café, Nottingham, 18/2/16, top billing with Hayley Green
- 'Page v. Stage', Nottingham Writers' Studio, 20/11/15
- Shindig!, The Western, Leicester, 21/9/15
- 'Say Sum Thin 9' (Mouthy Poets), Nottingham Playhouse, 25/7/15
- 'Shady Cow', Rough Trade Records, Nottingham, 25/7/15
- 'Poetry is Dead Good' at Jam Cafe, Nottingham. 17/3/15
- 'Word Jam', Council House Ballroom, Nottingham (part of Nottwords). 19/10/14
- 'Skype Night' (part of Nottwords). 18/10/14
- 'Not The National Poetry Day', WEA Loughborough. 4/10/14
- 'States of Independence', De Montfort University, Leicester, 15/3/14
- 'Word Jam' at Jam Cafe, Nottingham. 26/1/14
- Loughborough Grammar School. 23/1/14
- 'Poetry and Jazz' at the Guitar Bar, Nottingham, 8/1/14.
- Writing Conference at St. Edmund Hall, Oxford University, Oxford. Feb '13
- 'Word of Mouth', Nottingham Writers' Studio event at Antenna, Nottingham. Nov '12.
- 'Word of Mouth', Nottingham Writers' Studio event at Antenna, Nottingham. Performed excerpt from a long poem '1969' with the actor Gary Keane, including sound and visuals. March '12.
- ‘Oxjam’ (Oxfam benefit gig) at Beeston Transport Museum, Nottingham. Oct ‘11.
- ‘Safe and Sounds’ Festival at Lee Rosy’s Café, Nottingham. Sep ‘11.
- Nottingham Poetry Series at Atlas Deli, Nottingham, with poets Mario Petrucci and Kathleen Bell. Oct '10.
- Lowdham Book Festival, Nottingham Trent Uni. Creative Writing Showcase. Jun ‘10.
- ‘Oxjam’ (Oxfam benefit gig) with poets Gregory Woods, Mahendra Solanki and Helen Mort, at The Jam Café, Nottingham. Jun ‘09.
- ‘GFEST08’, an LGBT arts festival at Rich Mix, Bethnal Green, London. Nov ‘08.
- The Art Café, Mansfield. Aug ‘07 and Aug ’08 .
- D.H.Lawrence Pavilion, University Of Nottingham, Tripod issue 2 launch. Aug ‘07.
- Pitcher And Piano, Soho, London, Chroma, Issue 2 launch. Sep ‘05.
Conference Papers:
- 'Towards a Queer Poetics', NAWE (National Association of Writers in Education) conference, York, Nov 9-11, 2012.
- 'How to do a Practice-Based Doctorate in Writing Poetry: A Personal Perspective', 'Discourse, Power, Resistance' conference, Manchester Metropolitan University, April 20-22, 2006.
Panel Discussions:
- 'Poetry For The Stage v. Poetry For The Page', November 20th 2016, Nottingham Writers' Studio
- What is Queer Poetry?', part of Say Sum Thin 9 by Mouthy Poets, Nottingham Playhouse, July 25th 2015
- 'What is Queer Poetry?', part of Sheffield Poetry Festival, June 4th 2013.
- 'Creative Writing in Education', as part of the first Writing conference at St.Edmund Hall, Oxford University, February 9th 2013.
Ongoing Involvements:
- continues to facilitate 'Nottingham Stanza' (for members of The Poetry Society, plus guests), a contemporary poetry reading group which he founded in 2008. This meets monthly at Nottingham Playhouse.
- founded Word Jam, a collective of poets and musicians in Nottingham whose first language is not English, in February 2013. Was Co-Director, and is now Creative Advisor.
