Portsmouth Poet Laureate

Portsmouth City Council are searching for the city’s first Poet Laureate, to write, perform and raise the profile of poetry in the city.

The Poet Laureate will be announced on Monday 7 February 2011, Charles Dickens’ Birthday.

How to Apply

You must live in and work in the Portsmouth area and be an experienced poet. You will need to submit four original poems that you have written and a Statement of Interest.

Your statement should include your contact details, along with why you would like to be considered for the position, what experience you have in promoting poetry as well as detailing what you would bring to the position. The statement should be no more than one side of A4 (submissions should be typewritten). Please do not write your name on any of the poems.

Submissions will be read by a panel of judges. If you are short-listed you will be invited to attend a short interview. In this you should be prepared to read one of your submitted poems and one published poem by another poet of your choice, which will be followed by an informal chat with the panel.

If successful please note that the post is an honorary position but there will be some provision for expenses.

Please keep copies of the poems and Statement of Interest you have submitted, as we are unable to return them.

The closing date for submissions is 21 January 2011.

Submissions should be sent to:
Portsmouth Poet Laureate 2011/2012
Dom Kippin
Literature Development Officer
Cultural Services
Civic Offices
Guildhall Square
Portsmouth, PO1 2AD