As we're all in the midst of lockdown and need more reading material, here's a free little poetry pamphlet from myself.

'The Art of Conduction' is a sequence of 100 senryū exploring the power of music and the orchestra.
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You can download it for free (or pay-what-you-want) from Gumroad at https://gumroad.com/colindardis
Enjoy!

Geraldine O'Kane and myself have curated an Audio Anthology to mark International Women's Day 2020, inviting fifteen poets to record versions of their own work. The album is free to stream and donload via Bandcamp.

There's a new issue of The Honest Ulsterman out today, with interviews by myself with Gaynor Kane, talking about death and her new collection, Memory Forest, from Hedgehog Press; and with Michael Wilson, talking about his 'adventures in mental health' with his collection Bedlam's Best and Finest, from Eyewear Publishing. 

Big love to Rick Lupert for playing my sound poem 'Vacancy of Days' on the latest Poetry Super Highway podcast. The item starts just after the 30 minute mark. Rick also generously plugged my bandcamp page and Poetry NI, many thanks! PSH has a monthly dial in show, if you wish to read your poetry on air, check it out.​

I've started a new blog of micro-interviews with writers and creatives about some of their favourite books, called Fill Your Books!
First up to be interviewed are comedian & poet John Moynes, and novelist & artist Sharon Owens. Forthcoming interviews will feature poets Matthew MC Smith, Mark Anthony Owen, Lauren Scharhag, Elizabeth McGeown, and SK Grout.

STILL A FEW PLACES LEFT, BOOK NOW! 
This Saturday, 22nd, in Enniskillen, I'm hosting a full day workshop, organised by Fermanagh Writers, funding by Arts Council of Northern Ireland. The workshop runs from 10am-5pm at Fermanagh House (Broadmeadow Place). The event is free and there is a small fee (£2.50) charged for refreshments. As places are limited, please email fermanaghwriters@aol.co.uk if you wish to register for it.

On March 26th, poet Colin Hassard hosts 'Reading & Righting' as part of Imagine! The Belfast Festival of Ideas & Politics on Thursday 26th in Crescent Arts Centre. An array of local award-winning poets and spoken word artists share their work inspired by various sociological, psychological and environmental issues. They will also each share inspiring work by a famous poet which has influenced their own writing. Also reading are Elizabeth McGeown, Michael Wilson, Abby Oliveira and Raquel McKee. Open mic slots available.

​For World Read Aloud Day, here's a short video of myself reading 'Catch' from my Fly on the Wall Poetry collection, The Dogs of Humanity.
The day is "an opportunity for people all around the globe to celebrate the joy of reading aloud, and advocate for literacy as a fundamental human right that belongs to everyone". Many thanks to the excellent Rory McCarron for recording this piece.

Lit Up, the monthly poetry event with a twist, returns for a new run, with host Michael Wilson. Myself and life partner-in-rhyme Geraldine O'Kane will be kicking off the new session.

Lit Up encourages readers "to read poems that have inspired them or that they cherish. There will be two selected headliners and open mic. To perform at the open mic just put your name down on the night, you can also read your own work but we do encourage other peoples' poems as well."

Thursday 20th February, 7pm, £5
Community Arts Partnership, The ARC, Floors 1 & 2, 7 Donegall Street Place, Donegall Street, BT1 2FN, Belfast