About the Birmingham Poet Laureate
Birmingham Poet Laureate 2012/2013
Stephen Morrison-Burke is the new Birmingham Poet Laureate.
Birmingham’s 17th Poet Laureate - Longlisted Poets
The announcement of the winner was made at a special event on National Poetry Day, Thursday 4 October, at Café Yumm, Custard Factory with poets Jan Watts and Elvis McGonagall.
For further details, see the attachment below:
Poet Laureate 2012 - 2013
For the past fifteen years Birmingham has led the way in fresh contemporary poetry, gaining a national and international reputation and setting a trend by appointing a Poet Laureate for the city.
The Poet Laureate is chosen from poets who live or practice in Birmingham by a panel of judges.
The Poets' Place at Birmingham Central Library
Our Previous Poets Laureate:
Brian Lewis (1996/7)
David Hart (1997/8)
Sibyl Ruth (1998/9)
Simon Pitt (1999/2000)
Roshan Doug (2000/01)
Roi Kwabena(2001/02)
Julie Boden (2002/03)
Roz Goddard (2003/04)
Don Barnard (2004/05).
Richard Grant known as Dreadlockalien (2005/06)
Giovanni "Spoz" Esposito (2006/7)
Charlie Jordan (2007/8)
Chris Morgan (2008/9)
Adrian Johnson (2009/10)
Roy McFarlane (2010/2011)
Jan Watts (2011/12)
The position of Birmingham's Poet Laureate is an honorary one, for which there is no payment. Candidates must be capable of writing good poetry and willing and able to perform their own work. All entrants have had work published and must be willing to get involved in key events and activities throughout the year. The Laureate would normally be resident or do most of their work in the Birmingham conurbation and would be commissioned to write some poems about Birmingham throughout the year.
A panel of judges, which includes members of Birmingham's Poetry Places and the current Poet Laureate, chooses the Laureate.
To find out more about the role of Birmingham Poet Laureate or how to contact the current Poet Laureate, please contact Nikki Bi, Birmingham Reader Development Support Officer via: nikki.bi@birmingham.gov.uk or 0121 303 2895.