POET, anthologist and actor Gerard Benson will be appearing at The Old Chapel, Calstock as a guest of Peterloo Poets poets on Wednesday.
Founder of Poems on the Underground, London-based Gerard is a member of the poetry performance group The Barrow Poets.
The author of several poetry books, both for children and adults, he has recorded a wide variety of poetry, both his own and others.
He recently appeared on the BBC?s popular Poetry Please.
He has appeared at many festivals, Edinburgh, Aldeburgh, Bath, City of London among them ? and, with both the Barrow Poets and Poems on the Underground, toured the United States and Canada.
Gerard was booked by Calstock-based Peterloo Poets publishing director Harry Chambers for the 5th Annual Schools? Poetry Week.
But while last year eight schools took part this year there is only one.
?We are subsidising this annual event to £1,000 and the Arts Council South West who fund us expect us to do this. I?m very committed to the educational aspect and put a lot of hard work into this,? said Mr Chambers.
He said he sent a letter followed up by a reminder to 50 schools and only Calstock Primary School responded.
?I have been discussing this with the Arts Council and will see if their education representative can do some research into this. It presents a magnificent opportunity ? it takes something beyond the curriculum but will help pupils with their curriculum,? he said.
?Such workshops help children use their imaginations. Last year we had Kit Wright holding workshops for eight schools.
?All the pupils produced their own poems within the one-and-half hour sessions,? said Mr Chambers.
The evening with Gerard Benson at the Old Chapel, Calstock on Wednesday, March 24 is for both adults and children.
It begins at 7.30pm. Tickets £5. Contact: 01822 833473.