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Interested in becoming the Cheshire Poet Laureate for 2008-09?

Thank you for your interest in the Cheshire Poet Laureate scheme. Please read the following information carefully before making an application.

General Information:

• The Cheshire Poet Laureate is an honorary position lasting for two calendar years.
• The intention of the scheme is to raise the profile of Cheshire poets whilst raising the profile of poetry in general, across the county.
• A minimum of £1250 is available for commissions, workshops and performances throughout the first year of office to celebrate key events in the Cheshire calendar.
• It is expected that the appointed poet will use the position to seek additional commissions, workshops and appearances during the year.
• The poet will be given a showcase event on National Poetry Day.
• The scheme is supported by Cheshire County Council.
• The Council will publish a new collection of the incumbent's work including all commissioned poems.
• The terms and conditions of this scheme are reviewed annually.

Conditions:

• Applicants must live, work or study within the administrative county of Cheshire (i.e. in one of the 6 Cheshire districts: Chester, Congleton, Crewe & Nantwich, Ellesmere Port & Neston, Macclesfield or Vale Royal).
• Be aged 18 or over.
• The successful poet will be subject to a criminal background check via the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB). To facilitate this, short-listed candidates will be asked to produce forms of identification in accordance with Cheshire County Council policy.
• Previous incumbents ineligible.

Form of application:

• Submit 4 poems, which may have been previously published or unpublished. Please write/type your name, address and title of poem on the reverse side of each.
• A CV, including two referees.
• A covering letter which includes: 1) why you want to become the Cheshire Poet Laureate; 2) what you hope to gain from the position; and 3) how you envisage using the position to raise the profile of poetry across the county.

Applications to be sent to: 

Anne Sherman
Literature & Reading Development Officer
Cheshire County Council
Arts Service
Goldsmith House
Hamilton Place
Chester
CH1 1SE

For any further information, tel: 01244 972898/972834.

• Please enclose an SAE. if you would like any enclosures to be returned.
• If you would like your details to be added to the Cheshire County Council Arts mailing list to receive further information about literature initiatives and events, please indicate in your application.
• If you are a professional writer and would like your details to feature on the Cheshire Artists’ Directory, then please request an application form in your correspondence.

Deadline: 12 noon on Friday 2 November 2007

Applications will be judged by:

• Literature Officer, Cheshire County Council
• Literature Officer, Arts Council England (North West)
• An elected member of Cheshire County Council
• The 2007 Cheshire Poet Laureate

The judges will be particularly interested in:

• The standard and range of poetry
• Ability to work in a wide range of community settings
• Ability to perform work in public
• Innovative approaches/ideas to promote poetry
• Ambassadorial potential

Shortlisted poets will be invited to attend an interview in early December 2007 in Chester.