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Elspeth Murray

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Contact: elspeth@elspethmurray.com
Local authority: Edinburgh City
Languages: English
Elspeth Murray's headshot

I have worked as a poet and writer in residence in schools, community, arts, health and business settings over many years. As mentor and facilitator, I love meeting people where they are, honouring their diverse, unique voices and enabling them to tell their stories in a way that empowers them and inspires others.

Many of my projects have involved a twist to traditional page poetry and often have been in collaboration with artists of other disciplines including photography, graphic design, percussion, song writing and the culinary arts. Over many years I have worked with Puppet State Theatre Company in theatres across the world and have a deep appreciation for how audiences respond to story, focus, suspense and stillness.

Added to my performance track record and projects involving rehearsing groups for spoken word events, I feel well equipped to help prepare people to present their work in the most captivating way possible. This has sometimes meant recording and remixing spoken word with interactive technology - and Play-Doh! I have increasingly been integrating visual arts into my practice including pen-and-ink sketching, hand lettering and whiteboard animation. (Photo credit: Jamie Krishnan)

Local authorities can visit

Dundee; East Lothian; Edinburgh City; Fife; Glasgow City; Midlothian; Stirling; West Lothian

Events can deliver

Live drawing; Mentoring; Panel event; Performance; Reading; Residency; Talk; Workshop; Professional development, CLPL or CPD; Chairing events

Audience can work with

Adult learners; Carers; People experiencing mental health problems; People living with dementia; Reluctant readers; Vulnerable older people; Young people in the community (e.g. Youth clubs, Guides, Scouts)

Topics of work

Activism & protest; Ageing; Biography & memoir; Childhood; Coasts, seas & oceans; Death, grief & bereavement; Environment & climate; Event production; Food; Health including mental health & wellbeing; Music; Nature; Performance training; Picture books; Politics; Religion & beliefs; Science fiction; Travel writing

Age groups published for

Children; Teens; Adults

Age groups can work with

6-8; 9-11; 12-14; 15-18; 18+

Audience size

0-10; 11-30; 31-100; 100-500; 500+