As important as the events that took place in September were also the more experimental workshops and activities that took part as a result of the Festival. Not only did we host poetry and photography workshops, but also a visit from the charismatic and extraordinary performance poet, A.F. Harrold, to local schools. The Speen Stars tapestry signed by visitors to the Fete became a roving feature at the Pub, the Marquee and lately at the Village Hall. And Ian Warr's wonderful video masterclass with local teenagers helped us to broaden the scope of the Festival to include media and get us onto YouTube whilst giving expert advice and training to those involved.
 
These workshops only tickled the surface of what the Festival could offer to develop creativity in and beyond Speen but they exposed a heartening desire to share and develop creative talent. We still have plans to host a visit from the Science Museum's Education Department to Bucks and continue our creative work with local schools. And then there's the Cultural Olympiad to deal with… in the meantime keep an eye on this page to learn about continuing events in the months to come!

SpeenFest Interactive! Events
 
Photography Workshop, 2.00-5.00pm, Saturday 6 June, Village Hall
Learn how to excel at photo composition and maybe even get inspired to enter our Photography Competition. Led by photographer Martin Hart. Admission free. (For ages 16 upwards).
 
Speen Stars in the Making, 2.00-5.00pm, Saturday 11 July, Speen Fete
A tapestry for you to add your own unique touch designed by our resident tapestry experts.
 
Festival of Food - nurturing young taste buds, Sunday 13 September
A programme of activities linked to the Festival of Food for young chefs in the making. Led by David Hill, Chef Patron at the King William IV pub, Speen.
 
Speen Big Sing! Friday 18 September
Supporting workshops for the Speen Festival-commissioned vocal work to be performed at the community Big Sing!
 
Speen TV - So you want to be a TV reporter? Saturday 5 September 2009
One of our next SpeenFest Interactive events is a one-day masterclass for budding video-journalists. So if you're aged between 14 to 19 years and want to find out how a newsroom works, how to create a news package and how to break into the industry, sign up now! There are only 12 places. You'll need to come prepared with some local story ideas, get ready to pick up a camera and be primed to report from the frontline for Speen Festival 2009.
 
The masterclass will be conducted by Ian Warr who spent nearly 15 years as a journalist and TV producer - most of them at the BBC - before creating a TV production company for Dragons Den entrepreneur, Peter Jones. Ian currently runs his own communications agency, Eyebright Media.
If you'd like to take part in Speen TV, email why to: director@speenfestival.org.
 
Speen SchoolFest
Creative workshops linking the local schools.
 
Creative Writing Workshop, 6.00-7.30 or 8.00-9.30pm, Wednesday 6 May,
Speen Chapel
A fun (no experience necessary) workshop in collaboration with the Speen & North Dean News Poetry Competition, culminating in the Creative-Writing Expo in September. Led by Susan Utting, poet and creative-writing teacher. Tickets: £5 from Speen Stores. (For ages 16 upwards).
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