Film maker opportunity
Waveney & Blyth Arts is seeking film maker for its production “Spell Songs in the Green” (SSIG)
Waveney & Blyth Arts has been working with choir Director Janet Koralambe, to create a public performance based on the book The Lost Words by Robert Macfarlane and Jackie Morris. Originally planned to be held on the Millennium Green in Halesworth in June 2021, the SSIG performance involves song, dance, drama and music with local adults and school children.
A Wing and a Prayer, Ann Follows on a recent eye catching walk..
I came across this stunning piece of glass work whilst on a frequently-walked location in January. I’m familiar with the sight of Leiston old abbey – or Minsmere Chapel as it’s also known – on the horizon when looking out from bird hides at Minsmere, or walking on the ‘belts’ between Sizewell and Dunwich. In bright January sunshine, an orange glow coming from the Abbey caught my eye. It was so surprising I diverted to take a closer look and as I approached, felt I was entering an outside gallery.
It made me realise how I miss being able to visit art galleries and how important public settings have become. This piece is exceptional because of where it’s located and the juxtaposition it has with the nuclear power station it faces. No coincidence at all as you can see in the the YouTube film about Arabella’s piece “A Wing and a Prayer”. It is so beautiful and technically genius, it is nothing less than inspirational.
It’s a permanent piece and easily accessible from the public footpaths, a bit muddy underfoot at the moment, but don’t let that put you off.
In next months newsletter we hope to bring you news of the events coming up this year.
Information about Arabella Marshall and her stained glass piece at Old Leiston Abbey, Minsmere Chapel:
New column news!
Melinda Appleby is an East Anglian writer/researcher who specialises in creative connections to nature and place.
Her new column Looking Out will be available to read in the February e-newsletter and you can read it here.
Her childhood on the Norfolk coast and East Anglian farmlands inspires much of her work, leading originally to a career in landscape management and environmental policy. Melinda was the first environmentalist employed by the National Farmers Union developing specialisms in sustainable land management and went on to serve on the Boards of English Nature and Natural England
In 2011 she won Country Living‘s Best Writer Award and saw this as a chance to change direction and focus on her writing, exploring the nature and culture of land. She gained an MA (Distinction) in Wild Writing at Essex University in 2014, following an earlier Creative Writing Diploma from University of East Anglia. Her dissertation examined the writer Roger Deakin; the influences on him and his influence on nature writing.
Melinda believes there are important links between nature and culture, and this underpins her work – her own writing, the courses she leads in landscape writing and in her research into the relationship between people and landscapes.
Melinda is on Waveney & Blyth Arts’ Management Committee and is working with Brian Guthrie on the 2021 Two Rivers Book Festival.
If you’re a member you get the e-newsletter but if you’d like to receive it as a non member you can sign up here.
AGM 2020
Our 2020 AGM took place on Saturday 5th December at 11:00am via Zoom.
You can see a recording or read the minutes by visiting the AGM page for up to date information.
See what our creative members are up to:

Postcards from the Edge
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