Apples and Snakes

Apples and Snakes
Formation1982. An England-wide organisation since 2002
Typeculture and arts
Legal statusregistered charity
PurposeTo stretch the boundaries of poetry in education and performance, by inspiring participation and giving voice to a diverse range of dynamic spoken word artists
HeadquartersThe Albany, Douglas Way, London SE8 4AG
Region served
England
Joint Directors
Lisa Mead and Robert Saunders[1]
Budget
£830,896[2]
Staff
14 nationally[3]
Websiteapplesandsnakes.org

Apples and Snakes, based at the Albany Theatre in Deptford, south-east London, is an organisation for performance poetry and the spoken word in England.[4] It has been described as the main organisation promoting performance poetry in Britain.[5] Set up in 1982 by a group of poets, the organisation has been "the development ground for many high profile poets and spoken word artists" and others, including John Agard, Jean "Binta" Breeze, Malika Booker, Billy Bragg, Charlie Dark, Inua Ellams, Phill Jupitus, Lemn Sissay, Kae Tempest, Mike Myers, Toby Jones and many more.[6]

Run by a board of trustees chaired by Kerry Featherstone,[2] Apples and Snakes has been a registered charity since 1986.[7] It currently receives more than £400,000 funding annually, as a national portfolio organisation, from Arts Council England.[8]

  1. ^ applesandsnakesblog.org
  2. ^ a b "Financial Accounts for 2013/14". Apples and Snakes. Archived from the original on 29 November 2014. Retrieved 24 February 2015.
  3. ^ "30 years of spoken word with Apples and Snakes". Apples and Snakes. Archived from the original on 29 November 2014. Retrieved 22 November 2014.
  4. ^ Barlow, Gavin (11 June 2012). "A stake in Deptford". ArtsProfessional. Retrieved 23 February 2015.
  5. ^ Hollingshead, Iain (9 October 2009). "Standing up for pure poetry". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 23 February 2015.
  6. ^ "Apples and Snakes turns 30", ARC, Stockton Arts Centre, 15 February 2011.
  7. ^ Registered charity number 294030. "Apples and Snakes". Open Charities. Retrieved 22 November 2014.
  8. ^ "Apples and Snakes". NPOs. Arts Council England. Archived from the original on 29 November 2014. Retrieved 22 November 2014.