Clacton Rocks!

Saturday 20 June 2026

Essex Book Festival is teaming up with Essex Cultural Diversity Project and Clacton Arts Centre to host ‘Clacton Rocks’, a day of fun activities on Saturday 20 June across Clacton including The Human Library, Stand up For Diversity Clacton, and Art:Up Poetry Open Mic.

Art:Up! Homecoming Poetry Reading And Open Mic

4.00pm – 6.00pm
Reuby’s Salt Beef and Cheesecake Bar, 66-68 Rosemary Rd, Clacton-on-Sea CO15 1TE

Art Up photo credit Christian Leppich

Join The Art:UP! This collaborative poetry project launched in the 2025 Essex Book Festival, and has seen more than fifty poets from across Essex get together and share new poetry.
The final instalment of this year’s project is on the topic ‘Homecoming’.

You can get involved by:
signing up to write something new with a partner,
writing your own poem on the theme,
or just coming along to support diverse voices from around the county.

This project is lead by The University of Essex, Essex Book Festival, Waxes Lyrical in Chelmsford, PoetryPlus in Manningtree and Clacton’s own Boho Banter.

We actively encourage new and neurodivergent writers to participate in this project.

To find out more, email Dr Jordan Savage: jksava@essex.ac.uk, or find us on insta: art_up_poetry

Tickets: Free, booking recommended
Box Office: artupclacton.eventbrite.co.uk

Stand Up For Diversity Clacton

6.30pm – 8.30pm
Reuby’s Salt Beef and Cheesecake Bar, 66-68 Rosemary Rd, Clacton-on-Sea CO15 1TE

You are invited to an evening of three-minute mini-talks and short shout-outs, bringing together those who want to champion diversity in Clacton.

Come along to make new connections, explore the transformative power of creativity, and collectively celebrate diverse voices involved in the arts and in our communities. All welcome.

Tickets: Free, booking recommended
Box Office: su4d-clacton.eventbrite.co.uk

The Human Library

Details to come soon

Watch this space for more details to come.