Staffordshire Poet Laureate 2015 - 2017
Conditions of Entry
Staffordshire County Council through Libraries and Arts is delighted to invite applications for the
role of Staffordshire Poet Laureate 2015 - 2017.
The Role
This role is open to applicants 18 years and over, who live or study in Staffordshire.
The selected poet will hold the position for twenty-four months with the role being taken up in
October 2015.
The position holder will, during the whole period of the tenure, support and mentor each new
Staffordshire Young Poet Laureate.
The position holder will be unpaid but will be required to complete a minimum of four commissions
over two years. Two commission opportunities will be found by the County Council and two
commissions will be found by the poet.
The poet will be expected each year to attend and be part of a poetry event on the evening of
National Poetry Day at a Staffordshire location. In 2015 for their inauguration; in 2016 to present
and read their “legacy” poem written in the book provided; in 2017 to report on the highlights of
their tenure; share poems created and welcome the next Staffordshire Poet Laureate.
The poet will be required to initiate poetry events in the county. The poet should also look to
establish a new poetry group in an area of the county with low engagement with poetry.
The poet will be expected to read or perform regularly at spoken word events within the county
The poet will need to keep an online blog of their activities, which could include poems, events,
photographs etc, to create a legacy and record of their tenure.
The poet will be required to act as an ambassador for the County Council, promoting attractions,
events and items that are specifically recognised as being associated with Staffordshire.
The poet may be asked to write poems to commemorate specific events within the county.
The poet will promote poetry in all its forms and be knowledgeable on poetic forms and structures
and other poets past and present.
Requirements
Applicants are required to submit three of their own poems. One of these poems must promote
Staffordshire as a great place to live, work and visit. The other poems are the applicant’s own
choice.
Applicants are also required to submit a list of ideas on what they would do during their period as
the laureate and any ideas that they have for commissions that they would want to bring to the
role.
The poet will be an experienced poet, but does not have to have had a collection published.
The poet will not have previously been poet laureate in the county.
Selection
The role is being organised through Staffordshire County Council, Libraries and Arts.
All applications will be reviewed by a selection panel to draw up a short-list of applicants.
The short-listed poets will be invited to meet with the panel, to read/perform their poems, to
discuss and explore their ideas for the years of their tenure.
The Staffordshire Poet Laureate will be announced on National Poetry Day, 8th October 2015.
The closing date for applications is midnight on Saturday 5th September 2015.
The completed application forms together with the three poems must be returned to Alan Medway
by e-mail at the following address [email protected]
Timescale
Applications close 5th September 2015
Short list confirmed by 11th September 2015
Interviews with the short-listed applicants will be held week beginning 14th September 2015
Short-listed applicants are invited to a poetry event (details to be confirmed), when the
Staffordshire Poet Laureate will be announced on National Poetry Day, 8th October 2015.