National Poetry Library suspends new membership scheme after protests
The National Poetry Library at London’s Southbank Centre has suspended the introduction of a membership scheme it had said was needed to raise funds, after an outcry from poets. The about-turn came on Thursday after over 1,500 people had signed a petition protesting about the plans. The library had planned to introduce the scheme on 2 October, the day before National Poetry Day. The petition said...
27th September 2019
Award-winning poet Ocean Vuong wins $625,000 'genius grant'
The poet Ocean Vuong, who came to the US with his family aged two as a refugee from Vietnam, has been awarded a grant of $625,000 (£504,000) by the MacArthur Foundation.
Vuong, who won the TS Eliot and Forward prizes with his debut collection, Night Sky With Exit Wounds, is one of seven writers w...
26th September 2019
Simon Armitage's 'Fugitives' poem celebrates access to countryside
The poet laureate Simon Armitage has written a poem called ‘Fugitives’ in a commission by the National Association for Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the Nati...
25th September 2019
Poets add their voices to protests on Climate Strike day
There was poetry taking place all over the world today, at demonstrations involving people – and young people in particular - striking today (Friday 20 September) to draw attention to the climate cri...
20th September 2019
Poet Musa Okwonga hits out at fellow old Etonians Cameron and Johnson
A poet and old Etonian has hit out at attitudes among politicians who attended his alma mater. Writing in the Guardian, Musa Okwonga said: “Eton is proud of its political leaders. This can be seen fro...
19th September 2019
Write Out Loud's Poetry Jam celebrates its 10th anniversary at Marsden jazz festival
Write Out Loud’s annual open-mic Poetry Jam at Marsden jazz festival will be celebrating its 10th anniversary at the festival next month, at a new venue. This year, on Sunday morning 13 October poets ...
13th September 2019
Reading to raise funds to restore Hugh MacDiarmid's Brownsbank home
A poetry reading to raise funds to help restore Brownsbank, the home of Hugh MacDiarmid, will take place at the Scottish Poetry Library in Edinburgh on 11 September.
MacDiarmid has been described...
2nd September 2019
