Jasmine Gardosi - Birmingham poet laureate 2022 to 2024

Jasmine Gardosi has been named as the new Birmingham Poet Laureate during a National Poetry Day celebration, which also marked the start of this year’s Birmingham Literature Festival.

Jasmine, a multiple slam champion and beatboxer, becomes Poet Laureate for 2022 to 2024, succeeding poet Casey Bailey. As the city’s 23rd Poet Laureate, Jasmine will act as a poetry ambassador and help raise the profile of poetry across Birmingham. She will be asked to write poetry for special occasions, lead poetry workshops, inspiring others to try their own hand at reading and writing poetry and will mentor the newly-appointed Young Poet Laureate.

Jasmine says:

“I’m excited to demonstrate through my role as Birmingham Poet Laureate that poetry belongs to everyone. Our voices are as diverse as Birmingham is – in fact, I believe there are as many types of poetry as there are people in this city. Whether it’s my beatbox/poetry fusions, performing poetry on a rollercoaster, or merging poems with music, I want to show to the world that poetry takes on many forms. It’s an art of infinite possibilities and it’s accessible to anyone. Everyone has a voice, and everyone’s voice matters.

I’m especially excited to connect the poetry and music communities, and as an LGBT poet, simply be myself on a larger stage.”