Cheshire County Council - Interested in Becoming Poet Laureate?

»Interested in Becoming Poet Laureate?

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.

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.

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.

Submit 4 poems, which may have been previously published or unpublished.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.

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.