THE second Hay Poetry Jamboree, a festival of innovative poetry and art, takes place from today (Thursday) until Saturday at Oriel Contemporary Arts, Salem Chapel, Hay-on-Wye.

The independent annual event showcases the work of experimental poets and artists not only from Wales and other parts of Britain, but from as far afield as France, Italy and even Canada.

It is interested in any writer who is trying new things and making unforeseen connections.

Among the Jamboree’s featured poets this year are Childe Roland, Robert Minhinnick, Alan Halsey, Geraldine Monk, Elisabeth Bletsoe and Caroline Bergvall.

In the gallery there is an exhibition of prints and paintings by Penny Hallas and Stewart Macindoe.

In the chapel attached to the gallery there will be screenings of films supplied by the Elysium Gallery and The Quantum Brothers, and, in the vestry, performance artist Kathryn Ashill will present a new work, Feast/Gwledd 2: Salem, in which the audience will be invited to feed her cake.

The Jamboree is sponsored by Academi, Poetry Wales, Swansea University School of Arts/CREW and Elysium Gallery.