Poetry night launches project for neurodiverse writers

A new project to provide opportunities for neurodiverse poets to showcase their work has been launched.

The Art:Up! project was launched at the University’s Art Exchange gallery as part of the 2025 Essex Book Festival.

Essex poets Ethan Stewart and Babalon Anon launched the open mic show and eco-poet Linden K McMahon headlined. Fifteen poets performed and one audience member commented that "there is no diversity without neurodiversity".

Art:Up! is a joint initiative between the University, Waxes Lyrical at HotBox in Chelmsford, Poetry Plus in Manningtree and Boho Banter in Clacton-On-Sea.

Over the coming year, the project will provide opportunities for neurodiverse writers to present their work at a series of events across the county, culminating in a final showcase as part of the 2026 Essex Book Festival.

It will also provide networking opportunities for poets to be partnered up to create collaborative pieces.

Dr Jordan Savage, from the University’s Department of Literature, Film, and Theatre Studies is leading the project. She said: “Neurodiverse writers are likely to experience high levels of anxiety about their writing and particularly about live performance.

“They are also likely to experience personal anxiety that means they do not think that an event is for them. The most important thing we do is explicitly invite neurodiverse writers to bring their work to Art:Up!”

The accessible live events, at which the work of neurodiverse writers will be celebrated, will “remove the pressure of the stage and the microphone, letting people choose how they wish to read, and providing prompts in advance,” Dr Savage added.

Renowned poet Linden K McMahon said: “Neurodiverse writers have so much to offer to help other people understand different ways of seeing the world. We're also maybe less likely to be able to throw ourselves into some of the traditional ways of making it as a poet, such as networking and self-promotion, so creating more access to writing is a matter of equity.”

Linden added: “Poetry is such an important community-builder. It can connect people through expression and shared experiences and support people to understand each other better. Linking up different groups will strengthen this and connect people to different voices and experiences.

“At its best - poetry can build stronger links through emotional engagement, build understanding, and through that create communities of care.”

Art:Up! is the first part of Dr Savage’s Essex Poetry Heritage Project which aims to celebrate the history and presence of poetry across the county of Essex and encourage wider engagement between the University and local communities.

To get involved with Art:Up! email Dr Savage.

Header image: Art:Up! organisers, left to right: Dave Hughes of Waxes Lyrical Chelmsford, Brenda Wells of Poetry Plus Manningtree, Anna Mae Kettle of Boho Banter Clacton, Dr Jordan Savage of the University of Essex, and poet Ethan Stewart