Located in Market Square at the heart of Antrim town, the historic Barbican Gate Lodge hosts a unique children’s poetry recital on Wednesday 21st June, 1.30-3pm. Free to all borough primary schools for children aged 7+ years, ‘Poetry Please!’ is the first of many planned educational outreach activities promoting literature and verbal arts to local young people, provided by Antrim Council’s Community Arts Outreach Programme and sponsored by the ‘Verbal Arts Centre’, Londonderry. In the unique and atmospheric setting of the newly-restored Barbican, renowned performance poet Chelley McLear will celebrate the art of children’s literature, reciting favourite children’s poems and encouraging young audience members to share their own. A celebrated young Canadian poet now based in Belfast, Chelley has performed at arts festivals throughout Ireland and the UK, as well as recent international events in Hungary and the Czech Republic. She also recently opened the ‘Celebrate Belfast 2006’ launch by special request of Belfast City Council with her poem ‘Ringing the Changes’. Community Arts Outreach Officer Desima Connolly comments, "Energetic and inspirational, Chelley has an informal and natural rapport with children. We are thrilled to be providing such an invaluable platform for children’s creativity, encouraging engagement with such professional artists and also supporting our local schools’. For booking information, contact Clotworthy Arts Centre on Tel: 028 9448 1338 Email: clotworthyarts@antrim.gov.uk immediately. | 
