The search is on for a Poet Laureate and Young Poet Laureate to represent Birmingham for 2018 - 2020.
Birmingham Poets Laureate 2018-2020
Could you be Birmingham’s next Poet Laureate or Young Poet Laureate?
Library of Birmingham and Writing West Midlands are looking for two wonderful poets to fill these honorary posts from October 2018 to September 2020.
The Young Poet Laureate must be under 18 on 1 October 2018, and the Poet Laureate will be over 18 on the same date.
You will be asked to help make poetry accessible across diverse communities and to use poetry to help promote the city. This might include writing poems to commission, performing poetry, running workshops, getting involved in cultural events and working with the city’s many poets and poetry groups. Birmingham’s Poet Laureate and Young Poet Laureate may sometimes be asked to work together.
Who can apply?
The post is open to poets who are living, working or studying in Birmingham. Please note the age restrictions stated above. Applicants must be poets of a high standard, able to write to commission and perform and talk about their work in public.
How to apply
To apply, please submit two poems of 30 lines or less, one of which must be about some aspect of Birmingham, and also a short statement of 300 words maximum about your interest in the post and what you feel you can bring to the role.
The deadline for receipt of applications is 5pm on Tuesday 31 July 2018.
To make your application, please go to https://www.writingwestmidlands.org/poetlaureate1820/
Shortlisted poets will be asked to attend an interview on Thursday 20 September at the Library of Birmingham.
Recruitment for the Birmingham Poet Laureate scheme 2018 – 2020 is managed for the Library of Birmingham by Writing West Midlands.
The scheme is supported by Poetry on Loan.