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Photo: Birmingham Central Library. Tom Merilion; Concrete Dreams Exhibition 2000.

FURTHER DETAILS

'To date, I'm the only woman to have been the Birmingham Poet Laureate. It was a really good experience. I'd spent the previous year at home looking after my baby daughter. The opportunity to write poems that responded to the city both recharged my artistic batteries and broadened my poetic horizons. It also gave me useful insights into how poetry can have a role in the life of the community, rather than being a purely personal activity. The experience was in many ways a preparation for the work I do now as the Literature Programmer at mac.'    Sibyl Ruth Birmingham Poet Laureate 1998/9

1. THE POST IS HONORARY. BIRMINGHAM CENTRAL LIBRARIES STATE THEY WILL DO WHAT THEY CAN TO PUT TOGETHER A STRATEGY WITH THE NEW LAUREATE IN TERMS OF ATTRACTING FUNDING FOR PUBLICATION, APPEARANCES & COMMISSIONS

2. PRESS AND PUBLICITY. HERE THE LAUREATE WILL BE SUPPORTED BY BIRMINGHAM LIBRARIES' PRESS OFFICE, MARKETING DEPT & LITERATURE OFFICE.

3 SELECTION PROCEDURE. TEAM WITHIN BIRMINGHAM LIBRARIES TO PRODUCE SHORT LIST. FINAL SELECTION BY LEMN SISSAY; MICHAEL CLARKE, DIRECTOR OF INFORMATION AT THE ARTSCOUNCIL; AND COUNCILLOR IAN WARD

NO MANUSCRIPTS RETURNED WITHOUT A4 SAE.

So:-

If you are a poet who lives or practices in Birmingham and would like to be Birmingham’s Poet Laureate for 2001/02 send in 4 poems and a short statement of interest to the

Literature Office, Central Library, Chamberlain Square, Birmingham, B3 3HQ

no later than the 8th of October.

Good Luck!