The Poet’s Place: Call for Public Submissions of Poems

The Poet’s Place

What is it? Where is it?

Is it a location? A circumstance? A role? A responsibility?

Is it about geography, society, beauty, the human condition, life and death? Is it about art, pure and simple?

Community Arts Partnership invites residents in any part of Northern Ireland to submit poems that demonstrate some notion of the poet’s place, wherever or whatever that may be; whether that finds itself in lyrical observation of landscapes or making a social comment. Their works will be collected in the anthology The Poet’s Place to celebrate the eclectic poetic voices in Northern Ireland.

The Poet’s Place project will continue to build on the work undertaken by New Belfast Community Arts Initiative in the Poetry in Motion Programme which has showcased new writing talent alongside more established names in the world of poetry and spoken word.  Previous contributors to the programmes include Seamus Heaney, Sinead Morrissey, Meadbh McGuckian, Ben Maeir, Ann Zell, Ruth Carr and Paul Maddern.

Chelley McLear, Poetry in Motion Co-ordinator said:

“We are very excited to be opening this project up across the region.  Workshops will be available through various writing groups if you’d like a little help or inspiration from our team of poets. Submissions are welcome from anyone living in Northern Ireland and we are keen to discover new poetic voices.  Be brave! Wherever the poetic urge takes you, put pen to paper about the things that inspire you and share your words with us.”

Conor Shields, Director of Community Arts Partnership said:

“Poets inhabit a unique place. They have the power to see and relate microscopic details of emotion. They can also offer us broad perspectives on our life and times. They have power beyond the words and image. They make us think, laugh, question and explore. Whether an established poet or a newcomer to writing poetry, we want to reflect that great sweep of local talent in our new anthology. ”

This anthology is dedicated to supporting new writing only and therefore poems previously published must not be submitted. Poems should be no more than seventy lines long. 

Submissions can be made by email or in hard copy but must be typed, accompanied by your name, address, phone number and email address and a statement that verifies the poem has not been published elsewhere.

Submissions should be sent to [email protected] or addressed to Chelley McLear, Poetry in Motion Co-ordinator, Community Arts Partnership, 3-5 Commercial Court, Belfast BT1 2NB and must be received by 5pm on Monday 16th April.

If you are a member of a writing group in Northern Ireland and would like your group to be considered for two free facilitated workshops in the month of March please contact [email protected] with full group details by Wednesday 22nd February.