It's Your Shout!

We've developed this event with 'public open space' in mind. As we see it, both those attending and taking part at the Huer's Hut will merely be, for a short while, present in a place that day-to-day is freely available to access by the public... and on the night of It's Your Shout, this will be no different. 

With this in mind, it does not feel right to sell 'tickets' for the event. We hope that this approach also means that It's Your Shout is extra-accessible for those in the locality who... (1) might be passing by on the night (2) might not be able to afford to come or want to risk limited resources on something like this (3) might not make up a typical audience for an event of this kind.

That said, we are still asking those who are attending to book a 'ticket’. But this serves a number of purposes, including keeping attendees updated about the event, as well as helping us learn more about who the audience is and how they heard about the event. Furthermore, there is also a maximum capacity at the base of the hut (to take into account safety and sight-lines) so we will 'check you in' at the event if that's ok!

As we say, it doesn't feel right to sell tickets for It's Your Shout. However, there is of course a cost to putting on an event on like this, it is not externally funded and we like to ensure that something is given back to the Hut in the way of monies toward ongoing preservation. Therefore, at the 'checkout' you will notice that we have included an option for you to make a contribution. If you have neither the means nor the inclination, please do feel free to disregard this. However, if you wish to support the event, we would welcome your generosity.

Whilst it might sound odd for us to be pedantic around words like buy/sell and ticket, we feel it is an important opportunity to make explicit our approach to holding cultural events in public spaces. And in this case, not least when the community (and an asset that is theirs) are central to conjuring the magic of the event on the night.

This small Grade II listed building perched high above the sea at Towan Head is of uncertain age. Some estimates put its origins as early as the 14th century however the current building is probably mid 19th century. It may have originally been used as a hermitage. Named after the Huer, an important figure in the pilchard fishing industry that once thrived in Newquay. The Huer would watch out from his high vantage point for the shoals of fish to arrive in the bay and then call out to the town by shouting 'Heva, Heva'. The seine boats with their long nets would be launched at once but then had to rely upon the Huer for directions. Holding 'Furze bushes' in his hands the Huer would direct the boats so they could first locate and then surround the fish.

National Poetry Day is the annual mass celebration on the first Thursday of October that encourages all to enjoy, discover and share poetry. It generates an explosion of activity nationwide, thousands of amazing events across the UK – on doorsteps and at kitchen tables, in gardens and streets, in schools, libraries and public spaces both online and offline – all celebrating poetry’s power to bring people together. The Day starts conversations, it encourages love of language – and best of all, it’s open to absolutely everyone to join in, quietly or noisily in rewarding and enjoyable ways. As the art-form’s most visible moment, it showcases the ways in which poetry adds value to society.

www.nationalpoetryday.co.uk