The votes are in and the finalists have been announced for this year’s Fenland Poet Laureate Awards!
The annual competition – which is celebrating its sixth anniversary this year – gives local poets a chance to write a poem for Fenland and compete for the prestigious title of Fenland Poet Laureate.
The competition has two categories: adults (aged 18 and over) and young people (aged from 10 – 17). The eight finalists in each category will be invited to perform their shortlisted pieces at the Fenland Poet Laureate Awards ceremony on that will take place on Friday 31st March at 7.30pm, at March Town Hall, Market Place, March, Cambridgeshire, PE15 9JF.
The winners in both categories will receive trophies, and the winner in the adult category will also have the opportunity to work with local organizations, write poems for regional events and generally help to raise the profile of literary and creative writing throughout the Fens.
There will also be special poetry performances from our two guest judges Rebecca Watts and Mary Livingstone.
Rebecca Watts is poet based in Cambridge. She was selected as one of the Poetry Trust’s Aldeburgh Eight poets in 2014. Her first collection, The Met Office Advises Caution, was published by Carcanet Press and is a Poetry Book Society Recommendation. Mary Livingstone is a poet and sustainability consultant based in Ely. She was Fenland Poet Laureate in 2016 and she co-edits the literary magazine The Fenland Reed.
SHORTLISTED POETS:
The judges really enjoyed reading through over 100 entries - which were all anonymised to avoid any favouritism. After much debate, the judges chose their favourite eight poems in each category.
The shortlisted poets in the adult category are:
Kate Caoimhe Arthur
Tony Bowland
Liz Davies
Beth Hartley
Rosemary Jones
Jacqueline Ogden
Dominic O'Sullivan
Sue Welfare
In the young poet group, the ten finalists are:
Ivy Birmingham
Thomas Fox
Thomas Kane
Sophie Lutkin
Tia MacNab
Georgina Melia
Phoebe Oram
Oliver Williams
THE AWARD NIGHT:
All of the finalists will be invited to perform their poems on the night, and the Fenland Poet Laureate and Young Fenland Poet Laureate for 2017 will be revealed!
To find out who will win, please join the team for the Fenland Poet Laureate Award Ceremony, doors open at 7pm for a 7.30pm start on Friday 31st March at March Town Hall, Market Place, March, Cambridgeshire, PE15 9JF.
Tickets for the awards ceremony are £4 each. To book your tickets please contact ADeC on telephone number: 01353 616 991 (Monday to Friday from 10am to 4pm) or book online https://www.wegottickets.com/event/392565 Booking charges may apply. Remember to book in advance to avoid disappointment.
Visit: www.fenlandpoetry.co.uk
Follow us: @Fenpoetlaureate