Walsall`s wordsmiths are gearing up to celebrate Walsall`s first Festival of Words between 8th - 9th June with story tellers, writers, historians, poets, performers and singer songwriters.
The Festival will feature in venues across Walsall Town Centre including the Arboretum Band Stand, the New Art Gallery, St Matthew`s Church, the Table Coffee Shop and the Victoria Katz Pub.
Tina J Cox (pictured) is a published poet who performed for National Poetry day for the mental health charity Arts All Over the Place. She ran a very successful interactive workshop called "Autism, Poetry and Me" which received good reviews.
She will be replicating her success with the workshop at the Table Coffee Shop in Lower Hall Lane for the Walsall Festival of Words.
Founded by members of Walsall Community Church in response to the COVID pandemic, The Table has taken over a vacant restaurant in the heart of Walsall Town Centre to provide a welcoming and safe place for the community to come together in a safe environment to bridge gaps in the community.
The Table opened in April 2021 to combat isolation and loneliness which was heightened by the COVID pandemic and support positive mental health through creative workshops, the faciliation of a positive and healthy environment that encourages relationships, support groups and community activities as well as being a coffee shop for people to meet socially in Walsall.
"In making myself vulnerable in discussing mental health experiences" said Tina "I want to share various issues in an effort to show that although we are all different we are also the same. I use the voice that poetry gave me and introduce myself and read some of my work during my interactive workshops".
Tina will be leading the interactive workshops "Autism, Poetry and Me" during the Walsall Festival of Words.
Further information: Facebook - Walsall Festival of Words
