THE countdown is on to this year’s Winchester Poetry Prize winner reveal with more 2,000 entries from 38 countries.
Winchester Poetry Festival has been busy ensuring this autumn has its own crop of poetry delights. While the next full festival isn’t until 2023, event organisers are hosting a day of poetry appreciation surrounding the announcement of this year’s winners of the Winchester Poetry Prize and the Hampshire Young Poets’ Prize.
Jonny Fluffypunk, the Poet on the High Street, will lead a walk to give people a new view of the history of Winchester which is highlighted in the compilation Winchester: A Poetic History in inconsequential moments. The Poet on the High Street project ran in 2022 with the support of the National Lottery Heritage Fund, Winchester BID, Winchester City Council and the people of Winchester via a Crowdfunding campaign.
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There will also be a poetry & mindfulness workshop, and a close reading by former Hampshire poet Kathryn Bevis.
The winner of the annual international poetry competition, rewarded with £1,000, will be announced by poet and judge Jo Bell. Now in its seventh year, the competition, sponsored by Paris Smith, attracted more than 2,200 entries from 38 countries. A special prize for the best poem by a Hampshire-based poet has been donated by Warren & Son. The prize-giving will feature readings by the commended and prize-winning poets whose work will also be published in an anthology.
Chair of Winchester Poetry Festival Jane Bryant said: “We are already working towards our full festival in 2023 but are pleased to be presenting a day of poetry activity. Winchester Poetry Day will give a fantastic taster of what is to come and allow us to connect with our poetry-loving audiences ahead of next year’s full festival.”
Most events are free but tickets should be booked. All the poetry day events take place at the Arc in Jewry Street and can be booked via the festival’s website. For more go to winchesterpoetryfestival.org/what-s-on.
Winchester Poetry Festival takes place biennially. The fifth festival is scheduled for October 13 to 25, 2023.
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