The beautiful Durham Coastline between Seaham and Horden was once home to one of the biggest coal mines in Europe and suffered some of the worst pollution in the world. The landscape was transformed by a massive clean-up project twenty years ago.
In partnership with the National Trust, we are supporting poets Phoebe Power and Katrina Porteous to undertake a writing residency exploring the coastline and meeting with members of the local community. Phoebe Power was born in Newcastle and won the 2018 Forward Prize for Best First Collection with Shrines of Upper Austria. Katrina Porteous is an acclaimed poet who grew up in Consett. Her forthcoming collection from Bloodaxe is Edge. Twenty years ago she was the poet-in-residence during the clean-up of Durham’s beaches.
This residency forms part of the National Trust’s People’s Landscape programme, which in Durham is creatively led by Amber Collective, with artistic advice from Turner Prize-winning artist Jeremy Deller.
At this event the poets will reflect on their residency and share the outcomes of their work.
Chaired by Degna Stone
