This year, Westminster, Kensington and Chelsea boroughs are paired together to work with Artists in Residence, Rachel Lewis and Magdalena Mannion, for SPINE Festival 2023. Below are details on how to contact participant libraries and more information about the artists. We’ll be adding to this page later in March with events that are happening during the festival.

Westminster

Website: see what’s on
Twitter: @WCCLibraries
Facebook: @WCCLibraries

Events

Wed 26 Apr – 10.00-11.30
Kindness – Hunters with Rachel Lewis and Magdalena Mannion
Let’s explore what kindness is and can be and why it is important. Here is a chance to express ourselves through poetry and dance.
Location: Maida Vale Library, Sutherland Avenue, London, W9 2QT

This event also repeats on Tue 2 May 13.00-14.30 and Thu 4 May 10.00-11.30

SPIN Show | Fri 5 May 13.30-14.15 with Kat François, Francesca Beard and Sadatu Futa
Location: Maida Vale Library, Sutherland Avenue, London, W9 2QT

Kensington & Chelsea

Website: see what’s on
Twitter: @RBKCLibraries
Facebook: @RBKCLibraries
Instagram: @RBKCLibraries
Youtube: Kensington and Chelsea Libraries

Events

Wed 26 Apr – 13.00-14.30
Kindness – Hunters with Rachel Lewis and Magdalena Mannion
Let’s explore what kindness is and can be and why it is important. Here is a chance to express ourselves through poetry and dance.
Location: Kensington Central Library, 12 Phillimore Walk, London, W8 7RX

This event repeats on Fri 28 Apr 10.00-11.30 and Sat 29 Apr 10.00-11.30.

SPIN Show | Fri 5 May – 10.30-11.15 with Kat François, Francesca Beard and Jaspreet Kaur
Location: Kensington Central Library, 12 Phillimore Walk, London, W8 7RX

Artists in Residence

Magdalena Mannion

Artform: dance

Magdalena is a flamenco dancer & dancemaker. She works with both traditional and contemporary forms of flamenco and is serious in her pursuit of sharing the joy of dance with people.

She is co-artistic director of Dotdotdot Dance and one half of choreographers Luz & Mannion, who create thought-provoking multidisciplinary flamenco dance which has been presented at Sadler’s Wells, The Lowry, Dans i Nord, Buxton International Festival, among others.

Magdalena combines working with different dance companies with teaching flamenco and dance. In her own work she enjoys exploring using words and poetry as a creative tool to find movement qualities and patterns.

Connect with Magdalena:
Website: www.dotdotdotdance.com and magdalenamannion.com
Instagram @dotdotdotdance and @magdalenamannion

Rachel Lewis

Artform: poetry/spoken word.

Rachel Lewis is a poet and creative facilitator interested in everyday joy, hidden pain and love beyond romance. Her first pamphlet won the 2019 Wordsmith Prize. She is currently writing a second collection and running a newsletter on the work of poetry. She is a recipient of the 2022 Jewish Book Week Emerging Writers Award and an alumna of the Barbican Young Poets Collective.

Connect with Rachel:
Twitter/Instagram @rachel_lewis_poet