An Evening of Poetry and Song

Dispel that winter gloom with …..
An Evening of Poetry & Song
Even when we can’t meet in person,
poetry and music can still sparkle over Zoom. Saturday 14 November from 7.30 pm
No charge but please support Glossopdale Foodbank with donations.
Readings of well-loved poems that have sustained us during the lockdown, along with songs from poems set to music. The Reading Group is joined by singers including Gordon Tyrrall, Michelle Holding, and Brian Peters.

Performance, Free

Dinner, Drinks & Spoken Word

Join us for an inspiring evening of poetry and spoken word, where we encourage to you order some dinner, enjoy some drinks and perform your poetry and spoken word. Alternatively feel free to sit back and soak up the words of our guest speakers and poets.

(Some free tickets are available.)

Performance, Open mic

Havering Libraries & Havering Arts Development National Poetry Day Recital

Online recital for Havering residents. To contribute please enter a video of a reading/performance of your own poem to arts@havering.gov.uk. Open to all ages. Closing date 20th October 2020. Please email for further details.

Performance, Free, Library

MK Bhavnagar University: Poetry Day – See it Like a Poet

The students of Department of English will recite poem in online gathering.

Performance, Free, Open mic

When Joy Begins

A bardic mic night of original poetry, story and song from the bards of the bard school... to bring you a 'beautifying surplus of soul' ... and delight. And don't we all need that! 3 sets and 3 break out rooms on zoom to bring you a fresh eyes on the world. We'd love to see you there!

Performance

Colchester High School: Poem to celebrate Vision

Our School Poet Laureate wrote his own poem to celebrate the day.

Performance

Poems in a Pandemic

over 100 poems shortlisted from front line care staff in a writing competition called Poems in a Pandemic

top ten read out live today for national poetry day.

We want to create a book of 100 poems and look at the life of the top ten poets

Performance

Downside School: Found Poetry

Pupils and staff found poems on pages torn from old books during Art Club and Book Club this week.

Performance, Free

Ysgol Y Deri Special School: looking at the world through colour

Vision- through colour and colourscopes, to look at each other and our world around us to create poetry to 'See like A Poet'

Performance, Free

Uplands Community College: Share a Poem, Write a Poem

Students across the school from age 11-18 have been encouraged to write a poem today, using ideas from Kate Clanchy's book, 'How to Grow Your Own Poem'. We will collate and share the poems with our community.

Free, Prize

YADA YADA Special

YADA YADA NOISE have worked in collaboration with First Story to produce a radio special for National Poetry Day!
Tune in to West Hull FM 106.9 on the 1st October at 7pm!

You can listen on at www.westhullfm.org or on the TuneIn app.
You can also download the Podcast after from WHFM MixCloud page!

Free

Fire River Poets reading with Chrissie Banks

A selection of open mic performers and our Fire River Poets guest poet Chrissie Banks, reading from her collection 'The Uninvited' and her new poetry publication, 'Frank'.
An online Zoom event starting at 7.30.

Performance, Free, Open mic

Wickhambreaux CEPS: Sponsored poetry by heart recital

Each child has been given a selection of poems to choose one to learn by heart and then gather sponsors to pay them for every line of the poem they can recite to their class correctly.
We are a primary school and the children's classes are also each putting a poet in the spotlight and are each receiving an anthology of poems by this spotlit poet as a gift to their book corners.

Performance, Prize

Armagh City Chapter National Poetry Day 2020

National Poetry Day - The City Chapter with Maura Johnston and Kate Newmann will celebrate this special event at 7.30pm this evening. Please join us via this link and, if you would, please support the City Chapter via Just Giving.

https://www.justgiving.com/thecitychapter

Performance

University of Birmingham School celebrated National Poetry Day

Our pupils in years 7, 8 and 9 will be enjoying poetry in their English lessons and receiving a virtual talk from poet, author and teacher Louisa Reid.

Reading, Performance, Free

RAF Museum Poetry Workshop

A family focused workshop to celebrate National Poetry Day as we focus on the theme of Remembrance.

We will commemorate Remembrance, explore published poetry and you will be given the opportunity to write your own poem.

This is a free workshop aimed at 8- 14 year olds

Free

Abbot Beyne School: Share a Poem

Staff and sixth formers have been invited to share their favourite poem or song and the reason why they like it. We are reading the poems with all student groups during mentoring today and on Friday. A display has been created in both our LRCs of all the poems.
Some of the poems have been written by staff for poetry day and others are from well known poets and groups.

Library

The Josephine Hart Poetry Hour: The Poetry of W H Auden

‘One Sunday afternoon in March 1922, a school friend casually asked me if I wrote poetry. I, who had never written a line or even read one with pleasure, decided at that moment that poetry was my vocation.’

Poems, published in 1930 by T. S. Eliot at Faber and Faber made Auden’s name almost immediately - in the history of English literature, only Byron became famous more quickly.

During his lifetime he garnered many awards and honours; in America he won the Gold Medal for Poetry, the National Book Award and the Pulitzer Prize. In 1956 he was elected Professor of Poetry at Oxford University.

‘Poetry’, Auden once wrote, is ‘memorable speech’.

He also said: ‘No poem which is not better heard than read is good poetry‘.

Auden was a visionary and his poems sound a warning bell. As they summon us to undo ‘the folded lie,/The romantic lie in the brain/Of the sensual man-in-the-street’ they also remind us: ‘We must love one another or die.’

Reading, Free

Inspiring Hope Visions and Vistias

We are running a poetry challenge starting October 1st till October 7th, for people to write a poem on the themes of: hopes, visions and vistas. The poems will be displayed in the clinic with some photographs depicting new ways of seeing the environment around us.

Free, Exhibition

Derby Book Festival: National Poetry Day Celebrations

Derby Book Festival's Shared Reading project's National Poetry Day activities will include:
• a downloadable poetry quiz (with prize)
• the display of more PopUpPoems across shops, arts venues, libraries, houses, fences and
gardens
• encouraging people to pass on a poem on a postcard
• impromptu poetry reading performances across the city (subject to Covid guidelines)
• creating an anthology of poems based on the National Poetry Day theme of ‘Vision.’

Performance, Free, Prize

Beech Hill School: National Poetry Day – See it Like a Poet

Year 3 & 5 classes will be working with the school's poet in residence, Winston Plowes, who will be in school all day to help them 'see things like a poet' as we look at great art by Turner and listen to music to help us all on our creative journey together.

Free

Derwent Library Volunteers’ favourite poems

We have created a display in our Community Library called Derwent Valley Bridge which serves 8 villages close to Scarborough in North Yorkshire. Some of our volunteers have read their suggested poems and these will be featured on our Library Facebook page.

Performance, Free, Library, Exhibition

Havering Libraries National Poetry Day Competition

Competition for Havering Library Service members to write an original poem on the theme of VISION. Winners will have their poems displayed in all the Havering libraries and receive book prizes. Open to all ages. Closing date 14th November 2020. Visit Havering Libraries Facebook pages for further details.

Free, Library, Prize, Exhibition

Heritage Theatr Cymru’s tribute to poetry

This is an online one hour selection of poetry readings by a range of voices. Some of the poetry is new and other pieces are published poetry which has been inspirational as stimulus and integrated writing within theatrical performances. Heritage Theatr Cymru research stories of some famous and some long forgotten women of Wales. When focusing on such personal stories, it is perhaps inevitable that poetry is often at the heart of such testimony. The company will read a number of poems that have been important in writing and performing their plays using Zoom and later will share on their website. The performers live in a variety of locations in Wales.

Performance, Free

Landmark International School: Poetry Celebration

We are holding a virtual assembly for the whole school, at which we will share the poem that was written by the whole school,as well as a selection of students' poetry. Poetry will be celebrated throughout the day in classes.

Performance

Sunderland Libraries Literature Festival – Poetry Day Sessions

We are celebrating National Poetry Day, join Alistair Robinson, Senior lecturer at the University of Sunderland in Journalism where he will be talking about his latest collection of poetry due out this Autumn, a must for all of the budding poets among you..

Thursday 1 October
3pm

Follow the link at
Shorturl.at/hxBE2

Celebrate National Poetry day with us and children’s poet Conrad Burdekin for a lively poetry challenge! You can’t fail to be inspired with this enthusiastic storyteller

Thursday 1 October
4pm

Follow the link to join in the fun;
Shorturl.at/Tdmr8

Performance, Free, Library

Writing and Drafting: free online CPD with the British Library and Seven Stories

Primary teachers! Join this free online CPD run by the British Library, with inspiring sessions from superstar poet Joseph Coelho and Seven Stories:the National Centre for Children's Books

Find out how the messy processes used by well-known authors can help you develop fresh ways of writing, drafting and editing poems and stories in your school.

Free, Library

British Library: Make a pop-up poetry notebook

Make a pop-up poetry notebook to help you see the world like a poet.

To inspire you, peek inside the notebooks of poets Joseph Coelho, Caroline Bird, John Hegley and Ruth Awolola, and follow their brilliant tips for writing and drafting your own poems.

Share your creations on Twitter @BL_Learning #DiscoveringChildrensBooks or email childrens.books@bl.uk

Free, Library

Podcast reading from Angie Pyman

We are delighted to present a reading for National Poetry Day from Devon-based poet Angie Pyman.

Angie reads her poem 'Ties That Bind' taken from her forthcoming collection 'Y:Poems of Separation' published by The Artel Press later this month.

Performance

Carluke High School: National Poetry Day 2020 Video

Pupils, staff, and various members of the school family past and present are taking part in a video reading poems, singing and playing music.

Performance, Library

10th Young People’s Poetry Awards in Chiswick

On National Poetry Day, we celebrate the winners of the Chiswick Book Festival’s Young People’s Poetry Awards 2020, which were announced online by writer/director Vicky Ireland, chair of Action for Children’s Arts. You can watch the prizegiving on YouTube and read the winning poems on the Festival website. Children from more than 20 schools took part.

Free, Prize

Soul City Wandering

To commemorate National Poetry Day, Frank Molloy performs 'WHAT I DID' from his new book Soul City Wandering live on Hungerford Bridge:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MnSnhdM83MI&t=6s

Soul City Wandering is released on Oct 1, 2020 to commemorate National Poetry Day. It encourages readers to use poetry as an aid to walking for pleasure.

Performance

Medway 575 Haiflu

Medway 575 collaborative Haiflu: https://youtu.be/i9gz6f4xDzc

Free, Library

Northamptonshire LibraryPlus: black out poetry

Using cut out images what poetry can be created when the image is placed over a page on a book?

Free, Library

Share a Poem with Outside Lives

Encouraging our theatre and arts groups to embrace the theme by sharing their favourite poems, or creating their own. An online collaboration via social media.

Free

Slough Poetry Journey

Throughout October, Public Health Slough's Active Park Walks will feature a poetry journey created by Slough Libraries and Culture. At each stage of your walk, you’ll unlock some wonderful words to inspire you on your journey. Discover all six poems to enter our prize draw. The walks can be found at Salt Hill Park, Kennedy Park, Upton Court Park and Upton Lea

Free

National Poetry Day: Poetry Karaoke

As part of National Poetry Day celebrations, the Bristol Poetry Institute, in conjunction with Residential Life, invites you to take part in Poetry Karaoke. The event will comprise of a series of poetry readings from a panel and from audience members.

As with ordinary karaoke, poetry karaoke invites audience members up to the (virtual) stage to perform. Instead of singing, however, performers at poetry karaoke are asked to first briefly introduce a chosen poem, then read the poem aloud while virtual audience members watch on.

The event will provide an informal, relaxed and welcoming space for readers and audience members to share in not just an hour of poetry, but an hour of poetry that means something to those in attendance.

Any choice of poem is welcome, whether the work of a published poet (of any standing), a spoken word poet, or a piece of your own poetry. We would also welcome poetry in any language. Those new to poetry but wanting to take part may wish to read one of the poems suggested by the National Poetry Day website.

The event will take place online. Attendance is free but registration is required via our website.

Poetry Workshop as part of Poems from the Palace at Palace Theatre Paignton

Launching on National Poetry Day.
Come along and enjoy an afternoon of poetry celebrating Identity and Difference, Home and Belonging on 21 November 2020.
Take part in a participatory Poetry Workshop as part of the Poems from the Palace project with Louisa Adjoa Parker – South West based, acclaimed writer, poet and speaker, and Diversity & Inclusion consultant for The Inclusion Agency.

The workshop will include warm up exercises, group discussion, writing exercises, editing and performance practice skills and an opportunity to share your work within a supportive environment. Please bring along a photograph that relates to your home and/or identity, as well as a notepad/pen. Suitable for anyone aged 14 years and above.
£10 per person. Tea or coffee will be available to purchase onsite.

Workshop supported by Literature Works, Torbay Culture’s Create to Recover programme and National Lottery Players and Arts Council England’s Emergency Recovery Fund.

Performance

Four poems by Jenny Mitchell

Southwark Libraries host new recordings by Jenny Mitchell of four poems from her prize-winning debut collection, 'Her Lost Language'. Watch our Twitter feed @SouthwarkLibs on National Poetry Day for more details.

Performance, Free, Library

Cross Farm After School Club Poetry Celebration

Our After School Club will be celebrating different poetry with the children and getting the children to create their own amazing poems

Performance

Grimm & Co: playing with emotions

To celebrate National Poetry Day on Thursday 1st October 2020, Grimm & Co explores this year’s theme of Vision by playing around with our emotions when thinking about the future. Watch the video or read the written instructions to take part in our creative writing activity.

Free

Cheshire East Libraries celebrate National Poetry Day

Join Cheshire East Libraries as we celebrate National Poetry Day on their Facebook pages. We will be showing videos of a variety of local poets reading out their poems to showcase the huge amount of talent in the authority. Videos will be shown throughout the day and be available thereafter.

Performance, Library

Alsager School LRC: Send a Poem

Each year group in school will be emailed a poem on 1st October for them to enjoy.

Free, Library

Untold Stories: Poetry at English Heritage Launch

Untold Stories: Poetry at English Heritage is a programme for autumn 2020, curated in collaboration with Jacob Sam-La Rose, English Heritage’s Poet in Residence.

Launching on National Poetry Day (1 October), Untold Stories will explore the hidden histories and contemporary resonances of English Heritage sites.

The programme will include some of England’s best poets, both established and emerging, including Malika Booker and Esme Allman.

Visit the @EnglishHeritage Instagram on National Poetry Day to download our new podcast episode talking to Jacob Sam-La Rose and Esme Allman and watch a film of Jacob's new poem for English Heritage 'What it Means to Be'.

Performance, Free

English Heritage Poetry Competition

This autumn English Heritage are inviting you to write your own poem as part of the Untold Stories: Poetry for English Heritage programme. Your poem could be about your own experience, a historical figure that deserves more recognition, or an imagined character who has been ‘left out’ of the history books.

We want everyone to explore their heritage by capturing the people, places, and communities that have shaped them, and contribute to the heritage that will be handed down to future generations.

Don’t know where to start? Delve into your own family history or the history of our sites, or explore the stories of people featured, or perhaps not yet featured, in our Blue Plaques Scheme to spark your imagination.

A winner from each age category (5-8, 9-12, 13-16, 17+) will be selected to be included in the Untold Stories digital poetry anthology alongside poems commissioned by English Heritage by poets including Jacob Sam-La Rose and Malika Booker as part of the Untold Stories: Poetry at English Heritage programme.

Our Untold Stories Poetry Competition is open to anyone aged 5 and above and opens at midday on National Poetry Day (1 October 2020). Entry closes at midnight on 13 November 2020.

To submit an entry, please visit the website.

Prize

English Heritage Members Workshops

Join English Heritage’s Poet in Residence for 2020, Jacob Sam-La Rose, for this special members’ workshop.

Participants will collectively explore the rich stories of English Heritage sites and our incredible shared and diverse history. Inspired by their discoveries, and with Jacob’s support, participants will use these stories to craft their own poem, exploring what it means to be ‘English’ today.

This intimate workshop (max 8 participants) will be held through Zoom.

Performance, Free

Untold Stories – Poetry at English Heritage

Untold Stories: Poetry at English Heritage is a programme for autumn 2020, curated in collaboration with Jacob Sam-La Rose, English Heritage’s Poet in Residence. Launching on National Poetry Day (1 October), Untold Stories will help to explore the hidden histories and contemporary resonances of English Heritage sites.

The programme will run throughout Black History Month (October) and beyond, and will highlight the voices and vision of Black poets including Esme Allman, Nii Ayikwei Parkes, Jay Bernard, Malika Booker and Safiya Kinshasa.

The poets were asked to reflect on the history, fabric and atmosphere of our sites, using their creativity to enable us to look beyond the surface of our heritage for stories and people that may have been untold, forgotten or unseen.

Visit our website every day from 26 - 31 October to read a new poem by one of the commissioned poets.

Performance, Free

Shoreham Wordfest : Lines From The Lockdown” book launch and project celebration

A PRIVATE event at The Shoreham Centre for Adur District participants in the primary school poetry project 'Poems For Our Time - Lines From The Lockdown'. During lockdown, in May, June and July, primary school children from Adur District and West Sussex were invited to write their own poems on the theme of the lockdown experience. These have been published in a book : Lines From The Lockdown which will be launched on Saturday October 10th as part of National Poetry Day celebrations. Due to current restrictions this is a private event, but books can be bought through the Shoreham Wordfest website.

Performance

KCAW: Words on the Hill

WORDS ON THE HILL is an audiovisual installation. Created by artist Maya Sanbar and The Coronet Theatre, it forms part of KCAW's 2020 public art trail.

Opening on National Poetry Day, this outdoor installation celebrates the power of words through sound and a visual landscape of poems climbing up to the sky, at the iconic Coronet Theatre building on Notting Hill Gate.

Words and images are sewn into 80 metres of cloth, while a soundscape of classic and contemporary poetry is broadcast in a multitude of languages. This is an ode to the curative power of self expression, that transcends cultural differences and celebrates the musicality of words.

Free, Exhibition

Poetry Archive NPD Collection

Visionary poets read inspirational poems in the Poetry Archive NPD curated collection.

Performance, Free

If, by Rudyard Kipling, in British Sign Language

A special rendition of Rudyard Kipling's 'If' in British Sign Language will be posted on the Barnsley Libraries Facebook page and Twitter @BarnsleyLibs on 01/10/2020 at 11am, to celebrate National Poetry Day. The poem has been signed by Amy-Rose Atkinson (Access the Arts), and Roy Atkinson provided the voice over. With thanks to Amy-Rose and Roy, and also Creative Minds for making this possible.

Free, Library

Seamus Heaney HomePlace

Immerse yourself in the extraordinary world of Seamus Heaney, and explore through his words and imagination the people and place that so inspired him.

Described by Michael Longley as “an echo chamber for the poet’s beautiful lines”, Seamus Heaney HomePlace features a fully interactive exhibition over two floors, filled with personal stories, images and the voice of the poet himself. A recreation of his Dublin study will transport you back to 1995, when Seamus Heaney was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature.

Exhibition

Rougemont School: Poetry Competition

Pupils will be writing poems of their own, as well as reading a range of poems in order to create illustrated designs.

Prize

Fitzalan High School: National Poetry Day

Reading, writing and listening to poetry at Fitzalan. Publishing our poetry via the school website!

Free

A Poem a Day for National Poetry Day Week

I will be posting a short video on each day of NPD week, Monday to Friday, showing children (and maybe adults too) how to write a poem. Each video is under 10 minutes long, and the poems are all short eg cinquains, clerihews and haiku.

Free, Prize

The Poetry Zone Competition

A competition running for two weeks to write a poem on the theme of Vision.

Free, Prize

Fire & Dust: National Poetry Day!

Monthly poetry open mic event in Coventry city centre. (Currently virtual, via Zoom). Ticketed - tickets are free. All poets, poetry fans and the poetry-curious are welcome!

Our headliner on October 1st is Katy Wareham Morris, with her new V. Press pamphlet 'Making Tracks'.

Open mic slots available, sign up before the gig for a chance to be selected. Slots are approx. 3 mins.

Performance, Free, Open mic

KCAW20 Poetry Corner

To celebrate the third edition of KCAW and in order to give greater visibility to locally based creative talent, KCAW20 launched an Open Call to writers and spoken word artists to submit poems to be displayed in the windows of participating venues throughout the borough.

Successful proposals are featured as part of the KCAW20 Public Art Trail.

Find them all on our Participants’ windows and on kcaw.co.uk.

Free, Exhibition

Words on the Hill

WORDS ON THE HILL is an audiovisual installation. Created by artist Maya Sanbar together with The Coronet Theatre, it forms part of the Kensington + Chelsea Art Week 2020 Public Art Trail.

Opening on National Poetry day, this outdoor installation celebrates the power of words through sound and a visual landscape of poems climbing up to the sky, at the iconic Coronet Theatre building on Notting Hill Gate.

Words and images are sewn into 80 metres of cloth, while a soundscape of classic and contemporary poetry is broadcast in a multitude languages. This is an ode to the curative power of self expression, that transcends cultural differences, celebrating the musicality of words sounding as expressively as they feel.

Soundscape composed by Amit Rai Sharma, created with Maya Sanbar.

Performance, Exhibition

Poetry Workshop – Learning the Basics

Have you ever wanted to write, but you’re not sure where to start?

Do you have ideas that you struggle to put on paper?

In this online workshop from Exeter Cathedral Library & Archives, you will be taught the basics of writing poetry.

With guidance from a poet and recent graduate of English & Drama, you will take part in fun tasks, and learn tips & tricks to write a poem you can be proud of.

This workshop is open to all ages & abilities. All you need is some paper, a pen, and the desire to get creative.

Happy National Poetry Day!

Free

SIREN POETS exclusive finale 8PM

An exclusive one off FREE GIG!
Four poets, three musicians, a unique venue and a hugely diverse array of newly commissioned work underpinned by the Climate Emergency.

Join award winning poets Liv Torc, Pete (The Temp) Bearder, Shagufta K Iqbal and Chris White as they celebrate, publicly share and entertain us with new work created during the Siren Poets Project.

Expect an evening of exceptional poetic and musical talent, sounding the siren loud and clear on the Climate Emergency.

Produced by Cape Farewell and filmed live at our rural HQ in Dorset.

Performance, Free

Lichfield Cathedral School: Poetry Workshops with James Carter

Virtual poetry workshops, vision and animal poetry with James Carter for years 5/6 at Lichfield Cathedral School

Performance, Free

National Literacy Trust Poetry Party!

Staff across the country will come together on Zoom to have our very own poetry party!

Free, Open mic

Share your favourite poem with us

A virtual event that asks our followers and users to share their favourite poems with us and each other via our social media accounts.

Free, Library

This is Not a Poem by Eric Ngalle Charles

This is Not a Poem is a hymn on tolerance. Following the poetry of writer, actor, and human rights activist Eric Ngalle Charles.

This short film is a visual composition which explores education, migration, displacement and belonging. Eric brings his experience and storytelling ability to question home, placing his work and ideas between Wales and Cameroon.

Eric Ngalle Charles is a Cameroonian born and Wales based writer, poet, playwright, actor, and human rights activists. His work has been described by Mr Owen Sheers as ‘’A unique theatrical language’’. Until Coronavirus put a stop to it, the film was due to tour the UK as a one-hour package, with discussions on ‘What is home?’, belonging, displacement etc.

The film is directed by Bafta Cymru and New York film festival award-winning filmmaker Mr Greg Lewis. The film is only 17 minutes but it packs punches.

The premiere screening will be followed by a Q&A with ArtReach’s Film Programmer Reba Martin and writer Eric Ngalle Charles. Join us for this on 14th October at 7:30 pm to pick up some of the discussion that would have featured in Eric’s UK tour.

Free

Dame Allan’s School Read: Rossetti’s Rainbow

Using spoken word, art, music and nature walks, students across all of our year groups from Nursery to Year 13 are invited to read and respond to Christina Rossetti's poem The Rainbow. Will launch on National Poetry Day and continue thereafter.

Library, Prize

Poetry Trail around the Loch

Wander around the Loch and discover our hidden poems this #National Poetry Day.

We are inviting people to walk around the Loch and discover our hidden adult and children's poems. The Loch is a beautiful walk used by many and we aim to ask them to look out for the poems along the way.

We have invited a group of Performing students to join the walk and hold a discussion afterwards.

Free

More House School: Say it together but apart

The collective reciting and performing of a poem by yr 7 and 8

Performance, Free

King’s College India (inter)National Poetry Day

Each child in each online class in our school, from Nursery to Standard 12 will write a different kind of poem - collage poems, rainbow poems, haiku, calligrams, poems to save the world, acrostics, the list goes on. Literacy teachers across all departments will then collate our very first Poetry Anthology to share with parents and students digitally and in print. We are so excited!

Performance, Prize, Open mic

The Platform

'The Platform' Online Open Mic Night. The theme this month is 'Food & Feasting' See our Facebook page for details. FREE online event via Zoom.

Performance, Free, Open mic

Awakening Universal Genius

Just up the road (A12) from where I live in suffolk, Edward FitzGerald 1809 - 1883 translated and adapted his world famous poem The Ruba'iya't of Omar Khayyam.

The first word of this universally loved noetic poetic published in 1859 is 'Awake'.

To be... 'Awake'... Infinite Consciousness Being Aware of Itself (The Unity of Spirit)is the purpose of all Spiritual Traditions, Buddhism, Christianity, Islam, Judaism, Daoism, Hinduism et al hence when i read the Zen Master Hakuin's Song of Meditation I felt I just had to reduce it to four lines - to a quatrain that E.F.G used in his poem. This can be found in copies of the Temenos Academy Review No 23 just out - and just waiting for you.

Library

Ink Sweat & Tears NPD Feature

Eight days – 1st-8th October inclusive – of poems on the National Poetry Day theme of Vision on our online zine, specially chosen by IS&T's editor, and Bloodaxe poet, Helen Ivory. We are taking submissions for this until the 28th September. Click on Submit on the menu at inksweatandtears.co.uk for more details.

Free

Sir Frederick Gibberd College: Poetry Performances

To celebrate National Poetry Day, every student will be writing their own poems and performing them in class. The winner of each class will perform at a whole school assembly.

Performance

Inspire Libraries: National Poetry Day Takeover

Poetry takes over our social media accounts this 1st October with a selection of recorded poems and videos, highlighting wonderful new poetry books and collections available at Inspire libraries across Nottinghamshire.

Free, Library

Explore York Libraries and Archives: Haiflu Ever After

Spoken word artist Liv Torc mixes it up with an entertaining poetry show and talk about her pandemic poetry project.

And nothing makes sense
but in telling our stories
we learn who we are.

Part poetry show, part talk, spoken word artist and inventor of the Haiflu, Liv Torc, will take you on an entertaining journey through the pandemic poetry project that engaged thousands of people across the world. During the hour long show Liv will also perform some of her own highly acclaimed poetry and invite members of the audience to offer up their own haiflu in the chat panel to be read aloud.

Performance, Free, Library

Conrad Burdekin – Virtual Poetry Event for Schools and families at home

Yorkshire based poet Conrad Burdekin will present a free online poetry session to inspire school classes and families at home to get children writing their own poems for National Poetry Day.

Performance, Free, Library

Virtual Poetry Workshop with Jean Laurie

Northumberland Poet Jean Laurie will be offering four online prompts throughout September to inspire your writing. On October 1st, National Poetry Day itself, you can share your own poem and hear what others have written by joining our webinar live with Jean.

Free, Library

Poetry! Virtually!

Online workshop in celebration of National Poetry Day, led by spoken word artist Liv Torc.

This year the theme of National Poetry Day is Vision and Liv will be running a fun and engaging two hour session exploring ways to trigger your poetic imagination and write together as a group and individually.

Free, Library

Rap workshop

Rapper and wordsmith Rob Bradley will be hosting video rap workshops for two local secondary schools. This runs alongside the gifting of 160 copies of 'On the Come Up' by Angie Thomas which features a young rapper. This is a closed event for schools only.

Performance, Free

National Poetry Day display

A display of local poets poems of Vision.

Library

Short and Sweet

A daily haiku about the WEA's vision posted on Facebook and Twitter. From Monday 30th September to Sunday 4th October. Post/tweet your own poems on the theme.

Free

Five Islands Academy: Poetry Day Celebrations

Every student will hear poems shared in class, and we are asking students to write poems on the theme of 'Vision'.

Free

Sefton and Culture

Sefton is Liverpool City Region’s Borough of Culture for 2020, this year Sefton Libraries asked residents to participate in a poetry competition with the theme “Sefton and Culture”. Liverpool Poet Mandy Coe will recite the two winning entries which will be uploaded to Sefton Libraries Facebook and Twitter page on National Poetry Day.

Performance

Poetry and Storytelling with Conrad Burdekin

The Schools Library Service and Sheffield Libraries, Archives and Information Services will be hosting a special zoom event with Local writer, fun poet and storyteller Conrad Burdekin on Wednesday 7th October commencing at 1.30pm and lasting approximately 45 minutes. This is a free event and is suitable for KS2 years Y4-Y6. Conrad will be performing his poems and funny stories with a Q&A to follow.

Performance, Free, Library

The Isle of Man Poetry Society presents…

The IOM Poetry Society welcomes everyone to celebrate National Poetry Day with them by sharing poems on the theme of 'Vision'.

Performance, Library, Open mic

Inspired by words – National Poetry Day

Irina Goncherenko and Liliana Hristova

Authors and founders of Books By Mile will be posting their poems as part of Inspired by Words project on their Instagram #booksbymile and Facebook page #booksbymile. The words are given by Books By Mile followers and readers and will be posted on Thursday 24/09/2020. Everyone is welcome to take part and create a poem with the words and post on Monday 28/09/2020 tagging #booksbymile

Free

Poetry Chain

Join us on Twitter @kinglibheritage to take part in our Poetry Chain. Simply let us know what the library of the future should look like by adding a verse to our #poetrychain.

Free, Library, Open mic

National Poetry Day with Pauline Prior-Pitt

Pull up a chair and be transported to the Scottish islands from the comfort of your own home! This National Poetry Day, we’re thrilled to welcome Pauline Prior-Pitt, who will be joining us all the way from North Uist.

Pauline’s poems, alternately funny and poignant, beautifully reflect the intricacies of women’s lives, covering birth, death and everything in between. She also writes evocatively about North Uist, a land of wind, water and stone. Pauline will read a selection of her work on the themes of women, sea and shore, and share some reflections on her creative practice.

Performance, Free, Library

Poetry in Surrey Libraries

Visit the Surrey Libraries poetry blog to find out how we are celebrating National Poetry Day 2020 in our branches and online.

Free, Library

James Carter at Larkrise Primary School

A virtual interactive poetry and music session - plus a mini workshop to boot - with me, James Carter (NPD ambassador) and the fabulous Year 3 at Larkrise Primary!

Performance, Free

WORD Stafford Celebrates National Poetry Day and the launch of Poetic Vision anthology in support of Guide Dogs

WORD Stafford are delighted to present an evening of spoken word to celebrate National Poetry Day 2020 and the theme of 'vision' through the launch of our charity photo - poetry anthology 'Poetic Vision' in support of Stone and Stafford Guide Dogs.

Please come along to the launch event of this book, on Zoom, and see some of the photographs that inspired the poetry, in our poetry video to be premiered on the night.

The evening will include an open mic section and readings on the theme of 'vision' from poets who are not involved in the anthology to be able to share their work. Hosted by Jonathon Watkiss and Mel Wardle Woodend Staffordshire Poet Laureate 2019-2022.

Performance, Free, Open mic, Exhibition

The Mum Poet Club Zine

Members of The Mum Poet Club will be distributing a free poetry zine containing poems 21 poems on motherhood.

Reading, Free

Hornchurch High School: Poem Facts

Hornchurch High will be publishing facts about Poetry all week on their social media.

Free

Warwickshire Libraries Young Poet Laureate filmed performance

We'll be sharing a video of a performance by our Warwickshire Libraries Young Poet Laureate of a poem she was commissioned to write to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the opening of the building in which Rugby Library is sited. The Poem is called 'This is the place'.

Performance, Library

Exploring the Polesworth Poetry Trail

There has been a poetry trail around the North Warwickshire town of Polesworth for a number of years and we would like to remind people about it for this year's National Poetry Day. One of the poets involved in the formation of the Trail, Mal Dewhirst, has filmed a short video to introduce newcomers to the trail which we will be sharing on our Facebook page on National Poetry Day.

Find out more about the Trail at www.polesworthpoetrytrail.org

Free, Library

World Turned Upside Down #haiflu edition

We are launching a project to help us to make sense of the very strange year that 2020 has become. We are asking people in York to send us poems and drawings that we will use to create a lasting record of what has happened in our lives. The project is called World Turned Upside Down 2020 #haiflu edition

Free, Library

See It Like A Poet – Bloomsbury Children’s Poetry Showcase

Join us every day at 11am and 2pm from Monday 28th September - Friday 2nd October to celebrate poetry and National Poetry Day with Bloomsbury Education!

Hosting a wide range of activities, challenges and author videos with authors such as Matt Goodfellow, A. F. Harrold and Sarah Crossan, you can start to See It Like A Poet too!

Performance, Free, Prize

The Poetry Exchange

Is there a poem that has been a friend to you?

Book a free, individual slot to explore a poem and the part it's played in your life, in conversation with two members of The Poetry Exchange team. In exchange you'll receive a gift: a bespoke recording of your chosen poem, inspired by the conversation.

Thurs 1 - Fri 2 October

Individual sessions at 11am; 2pm; 4pm

Advance booking essential! Visit our website for more information and to book.

Free

Poetry Book Society Insta Live Book Club: Andrew McMillan, Nina Mingya Powles, Mervyn Taylor

Join us on National Poetry Day at 7pm on the 1st October on Instagram @poetrybooksociety for a free online live poetry book club hosted by the poet Andrew McMillan and his poetic pug Patricia!

This virtual National Poetry Day event includes free poetry readings, conversation and a live Q & A with our PBS Autumn Recommendations, Nina Mingya Powles and Mervyn Taylor. Nina will read live from her Forward shortlisted collection Magnolia, 木蘭, and Mervyn will join us from Trinidad to read from Country of Warm Snow, as well as answering live audience book club questions.

The Poetry Book Society was founded by TS Eliot. Every quarter our expert selectors choose the very best new poetry books to deliver to our members. Join our global poetry community for a year of thoughtfully curated poetry parcels delivered straight to your door plus 25% off books at www.poetrybooks.co.uk.

Performance, Free

THE DAILY HAIKU celebrates National Poetry Day

Come and join us at THE DAILY HAIKU to write haiku, post supporting images and video responding to the National Poetry Day theme of VISION alongside our weekly theme which will be voted on nearer the time by our members. We will also have a renga to join in on where the last line of a haiku begins the next and on you go..... Find us at https://www.facebook.com/groups/THEDAILYHAIKU. I started the group back March during UK Lockdown as an accessible, engaging and fun creative activity that could be achieved without having to take too much time. Based in West Penwith near Penzance our membership is now worldwide from USA to Japan to India to the rest of Europe.

Free

ATR(W) Poetry Competition

All trainees and permanent staff of the Army Training Regiment Winchester are able to submit a poem on the theme of reflection with a chance to win up to £100 of Amazon vouchers.

Taking inspiration from Army Training - instilling confidence that lasts a lifetime.

Prize

Local Laughing Limericks/Alliteration tongue twisters

Scots tongue performances tied into our local towns/villages/islands and performed by a local Drama Company 'The McDougalls'. Writing frames will be provide and families challenged to write their own.
Scots Tongue Poet, Tracy Harvey will introduce her 'picking up pug poo with a pug poo poke' (lending itself well to alliteration tongue twisters)!
Secondary Schools will experiment with a Critical Literacy approach (linguistic diversity) to Liz Lochhead's Bairnsang.

Performance, Free

Away With Words National Poetry Day Spoken Word Open Mic Live Stream Special

Away With Words National Poetry Day Spoken Word Open Mic Live Stream Special.

A virtual online live stream spoken word open mic with special guests.

Performance, Free, Open mic

Shiphay Learning Academy: Poetry-Play

A whole school celebration of poetry. Pupils will read, write, recite, perform and record their own poems and poems from famous poets.

Performance, Free, Library, Open mic, Exhibition

Poems in the Kitchen Yard

For our seventh year we will enjoy refreshments in the yard outside the kitchen! Friends old and new will bring poems on the theme for a 'Lucky Dip': any poems left over will be quarentined and hand-delivered to regulars who have to 'shield'. Shorter day; wider outreach!

Free

Exeter College’s Workshop and Slam!

A specialist workshop and slam run by poet Liv Torc, as well as live posting through the day. (Open only to students of Exeter College).

Performance, Prize, Open mic

A Prickle of Poets

5 book launches from Hedgehog press,
Zoë Sîobhan Howarth-Lowe, Katie Proctor, Gaynor Kane, Nigel Kent & Damien B. Donnelly

Performance, Free

Wandsworth Poetry Week 2020

Online poetry events from 28/09/20 - 02/10/20

28/09/20: Troy Cabida

29/09/20: Katie Byford

30/09/20: London Undercurrents

01/10/20: Imogen Russell Williams

02/10/20: Lola Oh

Find out more on the Wandsworth Library Facebook page.

Performance, Free

St Cedd’s School: Celebrating National Poetry Day in school

We will begin with an assembly showcasing various poetry styles based around 'Vision', including black-out poetry and shape poems. The library trolley will be visiting classrooms, packed with poetry books, and there will be displays in the library itself. Everyone will share and write poems in class, and we can share poems with our partner schools in other countries.

Library

Share a poem with Hedgespoken Press

Hedgespoken Press are taking over Gnash Comics to share their poems.

Free, Exhibition

See like a Poet with the Poetry Postie

The Poetry Postie has had a special delivery of spectacles (just in time for National Poetry Day) that can help you see like a poet! For a free prescription, or the chance to design your very own pair of glasses, catch the Postie on her rounds at the Community Garden in Mousehole - where you will also be able to hear the World Premier of the Spectacle Song, written and performed by the local schoolchildren.

Performance, Free

St Birinus School: Where we come from

Students at St Birinus School, Didcot, will be exploring the poems of contemporary poet Dean Atta, and writing their own, on the theme of 'where we come from.' They are using a poetry resource designed for the school for National Poetry Day by their resident Patron of Writing, poet Elaine Baker.

Performance

Poetry at Didcot Girls’ School: See it like Emily

Students across years 7 & 8 at Didcot Girls’ will be exploring the work and poems of inspirational nineteenth century poet Emily Dickinson and writing and sharing their own ‘Recipe’ poems.
They are using a bespoke poetry resource designed for the school for National Poetry Day by their resident Patron of Writing, poet Elaine Baker.

Performance

Ripon Library: Zoom Poems!

What rhymes with COVID? Can poems catch the coronavirus? Do words have to wear face-masks?
A creative writing poetry workshop to lift the Zoom gloom for children aged 7-11, with local poet Andy Croft.

Andy Croft has worked in over 400 schools and has written lots of books for children – poems, stories, plays and non-fiction.

Tuesday 27 October
10.30-11.30am

Contact Claire.thompson@northyorks.gov.uk to book a free place

Performance, Library

Ripon Library: Celebrate National Poetry Day with Andy Croft

To mark National Poetry Day Andy Croft reads from his new collection of poems The Sailors of Ulm. It’s a book about flying and falling, sailing and drowning. A user’s manual for swimming against the tide.

‘laugh-out-loud funny’ (The Guardian)
‘dreadfully old-fashioned’ (Tribune)
‘puerile’ (TLS)

Andy Croft has written over 80 books – poetry, novels and non-fiction. He edits Smokestack Books, runs the Ripon Poetry Festival and lives in Grewelthorpe.

Thursday 1 October 7pm

Contact claire.thompson@northyorks.gov.uk to book a free place.

Performance, Library

Flint High School: Lockdown Anthology Launch

As well as writing our own poems in class linked to the theme of vision, Flint High School will also be officially launching their own poetry Anthology! This is a collection of poems written by staff, students, parents and even members of the local community about their experiences of Lockdown which has been printed for sale. Some of the funds raised will be going towards supporting people in our community affected by Covid-19 in the form of a food bank donation. We will be reading poems written by our own as well as personal favourites. A true poetry feast!

Performance

Ryde School: A day of poetry

Classes will write and discuss poetry. Competition on the theme of vision.

Performance, Prize

National Poetry Day UK Reading with Community Arts Partnership

Community Arts Partnership Belfast is hosting a poetry reading on Zoom, showcasing the established poets who facilitate its poetry programmes in schools and the community. There is also an open mic; all places taken so contact us to join the waiting list or to come along and listen. info@capartscentre.com

Performance, Free, Open mic

See Woolwich Like A Poet

Join local poet Paul Cree for an interactive journey around Woolwich. Live streaming poetry from 4 historic locations, each with its own cultural history.

Paul Cree will be joined by Belinda Zhawi for an evening live stream from within Woolwich Central Library.

Follow @GreenwichLibraries on Facebook & Twitter for details.

Performance, Library

Kepier School: Poetry Doodles

Pupils to create doodles to illustrate a poem.

Prize

Ish by Georgie Jones

A spoken word show by Georgie Jones, recorded especially for Stamford Arts Centre.

Performance

Saying Words at the Goose

Another night of saying words. Nothing can stop the poetry, nothing can stop the flow.

We've had all this time away to gather our thoughts and to write down our feelings. Now is the time to listen to those words being said. Use your ears whilst they use their words and feel every syllable wash over you. I'm on a mission to bring poetry to anyone and everyone, and this is the next step. Please come along with an open mind, and it will be nourished beyond your expectations.

8pm start, with social distancing in place, so limited seats available.

Featuring: Daniel Searle, Lia Burge, Angel Warwick, Bassie Gracie, Megan O'Neill, Graham McKnight, Cleary Mallard, RawbyNature, Naomi Wood

Hosted by: Peter Strong

Performance

Yorkshire Coast Book Club poetry share

Book club members will be sharing poems online from 6pm onwards on Thursday October 1st.

Reading, Free

#Homeby10 Festival: Developing your practice with Rishi Dastidar and Gita Ralleigh

How can poets sustain their practice while developing their craft? As part of National Poetry Day and in association with The Asian Writer, poets Rishi Dastidar and Gita Ralleigh will discuss their poetic practice, routes to publication and the challenges they have faced along the way. This event will take place on Zoom from 7.30 pm.

Reading

BBC Contains Strong Language: Poem and a Pint

Event time 19:00-20:00 (Doors open 18:30) at the Forum bar, Barrow.

Kim Moore has a pint with some of our CSL Poets. Rachel Long performs work from her debut collection My Darling from the Lions – Shortlisted for the Forward Prize for Best Collection 2020 and we hear from poets from Barrow in an open mic event.

Open mic sign up on admission as space and time is limited.

Reading, Performance, Free

BBC Contains Strong Language: Kate Fox at Kirkby Lonsdale Poetry Festival

Reading, Performance, Free

Hertfordshire Libraries: Live National Poetry Day event with Dean Atta

Poet Dean Atta will go live on the Hertfordshire Libraries Facebook page on National Poetry Day to discuss his book The Black Flamingo.

Performance, Free, Library

A Lovely Word Online

Featuring headliner poet Dean Atta alongside open mic performers.

Poetry has never had a more important role to play in our community and we are more excited than ever to be bringing our monthly spoken word night back online.

A chance to speak, be heard and listen that wouldn’t be possible without the fantastic selection of poets from near and far that make up our night. More than that, it’s a chance to come together, connect with other people and take up our shared virtual space. We hope to see you there.

8pm - Zoom meeting begins, headliner performance with Dean Atta (20 mins)
8.25pm – a poetry exchange hosted on Zoom with 20 open mic poets, and an online audience.

The whole night will be streamed on Facebook live and Youtube, as well as being available on ZOOM.

Sign ups for open mic performers will open at 12noon on 21 September and close at 12noon on 25 September. Performers are allowed a maximum of 4 minutes, no hateful language is tolerated.

Performance, Free

Lily Lane Primary School: Letters To Earth

Y6 children from Lily Lane Primary School, Moston, Manchester will be reading poems inspired by the book 'Here We Are.' This will be LIVE STREAMED on Facebook- 'Friends of Lily Lane' and then uploaded to You Tube on the channel- louisethepoet.

Performance

Tor Bridge High School: Poetry Week Celebration

Library lessons for the whole of year 7 including video messages from the fantasic Karl Nova and Spoz. Learning about the use of poetry in advertising.

Whole school poetry week competition to write a Haiku of our experiences of lockdown (#Haiflu) - staff and students will be joining in.

Performance, Library, Prize

What is an Activist? Presented by Poet in the City

In line with National Poetry Day 2020’s theme of “Vision”, Poet in the City talks to poets who are changing perceptions around contemporary social issues. How do these poets and performers feel about being called an activist? Is it a label they choose or one that is placed upon? We’ll hear what it means to be an activist in 2020, in the wake of a global pandemic and the Black Lives Matter movement.

We're joined by Khadijah Ibrahiim, Joelle Taylor and Amina Atiq, who will be performing their poetry and answering the question of 'What is an activist?', discussing their work, their actions and their vision.

The event will last 45 minutes, after which there will be a Q&A session, where the poets will answer questions put to them by viewers on YouTube Live.

Performance, Free

Stockton Libraries: National Poetry Day Takeover

On 1st October Stockton Libraries' social media accounts will be filled with videos from local poets, entries to our acrostic poetry competition and news about all the fabulous poetry books you can find in our libraries and our Libby app.

Free

Wilderness Bristol: A National Poetry Day Workshop

Join Bristol City Poet, Caleb Parkin, for a lively National Poetry Day session. A safe, inclusive, playful online space to write and share, exploring this year’s theme of ‘Vision’. Caleb invites you to explore your own wild energy and power, the wilderness inside and outside of us, and envision our wildest ideas for tomorrow.

• Via Zoom, 6 – 7.30pm, National Poetry Day, Thursday 1st October.

• Suitable for secondary school age students (11-18 years)

• Guidance to be given throughout on technical aspects and group guidelines.

Free, Library

Simon Armitage in Dove Cottage

Tune in on the evening of National Poetry Day for this one-of-a-kind, online only performance. Experience the newly restored Dove Cottage, take in the beauty of Grasmere and its spectacular surroundings, and hear the poetry of two Poet Laureates as you’ve never heard it before. This live broadcast will not be available after the event, so make sure that you book your ticket!

This event is captioned.

5:00 pm - 6:00 pm BST

Tickets £7; £5 to current supporters of the Wordsworth Trust.

Performance

Erne Integrated College: Poetry Day Virtual Assembly

We plan to hold a socially distanced National Poetry Day Assembly featuring songs and poems by students across the Year Groups in the school. We want to celebrate all that is wonderful about words!

Performance

In the Downtime Book Launch

Celebrating the launch on Zoom of Steyning poet Simon Zec's second volume of poems, In the Downtime, published by The Real Press. Simon will be introducing and reading poems from this gorgeously illustrated anthology of his verse. A great chance to meet Simon and also hear from the artists who created the beautiful works of art that go with the book.

You can purchase signed copies of the book and also prints of the accompanying artworks.
For Zoom invite and password, please email Steyning Bookshop at: info@steyningbookshop.co.uk

Performance, Free

Langley Grammar School: Poetry Trees

Each pupil will write a poem on a cardboard leaf. These will be attached to poetry 'Trees'

Free, Exhibition

Chicken and Frog Bookshop Poetry Competition

We have teamed up with The School of Life Press and their beautiful new anthology, 'An Emotional Menagerie : Feelings from A-Z'.
We invite you to write an original poem which focuses on emotions and/or animals.
Winners will receive their very own copy of 'An Emotional Menagerie : Feelings from A-Z'.

Free, Prize

Geopoetry 2020

On Thursday, 1 October, Geopoetry 2020 will bring together poets and geoscientists to discuss how, in an era of climate change, their disciplines can influence each other. Headlined by John Hegley, the free event also features Yvonne Reddick, Norrie Bissell, Alyson Hallett, Ken Cockburn. With the pandemic taking place, the event is taking place virtually; you can register for the event on the website.

Performance, Free, Library

Developing Your Practice

Homeby10 Fest

Thursday 1 October National Poetry Day Event - Developing your practice, 7.30 - 8.30 pm

How can poets sustain their practice while developing their craft? As part of National Poetry Day and in association with The Asian Writer, poets Rishi Dastidar and Gita Ralleigh will discuss their poetic practice, routes to publication and the challenges they have they faced along the way.

Performance

Virtual First Thursday | A National Poetry Day Special

Join Seren on Thursday 1 October for Virtual First Thursday: A National Poetry Day Special - an evening of readings via Zoom.

Featuring Rhian Edwards and Marvin Thompson (whose collections 'The Estate Agent’s Daughter' and 'Road Trip' (Peepal Tree) are National Poetry Day Recommended Reads), and Sarah Wimbush whose pamphlet 'Bloodlines' won the Mslexia/PBS Women’s Poetry Pamphlet Prize 2019.

Tickets £2 (plus admin fee), available from https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/virtual-first-thursday-a-national-poetry-day-special-tickets-119592268695

There will be an open mic after the readings. Why not bring along a poem on the National Poetry Day theme of Vision (not compulsory)?

Email sarahjohnson@serenbooks.com if you would like to sign up.

This event will take place via Zoom.

Performance, Open mic

Chelsea Academy: National Poetry Day

Staff will be recording themselves reading their favourite poems which will be shared in morning registration. Students are challenged to write / perform their own poem as a whole-school competition.

Performance, Free, Library, Prize

Claverham Community College: ‘How you see 2020’

We are running a whole school poetry competition with the title ‘How you see 2020’. The competition is open to all staff and students.

Free, Prize

FREE Online Learning Resources for Teaching Poetry

Bob Cox, bestselling author of the Opening Doors series of books, has provided this brilliant playlist of free online learning resources covering teaching, reading and writing poetry.

Free

Places of Poetry book launch

The Poetry Society, in association with the University of Exeter and Oneworld Publications, presents the digital book launch of the Places of Poetry anthology, a volume of selected verse from around England and Wales from last year’s hugely popular Places of Poetry project, an interactive map that poets could pin their poetry to attracting 7,000 poems. The map can still be found at www.placesofpoetry.org.uk

This exciting event will sweep the country featuring a wide range of poetry voices reading their work from the anthology, including special guest performances from Ian Duhig and Jen Hadfield, and spot appearances from some of the nation’s treasured independent booksellers.

Performance, Free

Rainey Endowed School: Haiku Competition

All Year 8 pupils will take part in our annual poetry competition to create a haiku on the National Poetry Day theme of ‘Vision’ and present them attractively for display.

Sixth Form Literature students judge the haiku and the winners from each class are awarded a poetry anthology and house points.

Our winners will have their poems published on School social media.

Free, Prize

#ShareAPoemOfHope

We have launched a new online poetry campaign, #ShareAPoemOfHope. From Monday 7 September - Thursday 1 October, to mark National Poetry Day, we’re asking for local residents, community groups and poets for brief poems of hope. We are looking for short poems (of no more than four lines) and images (landscape orientation, without identifiable people) that provide messages of healing or hope. Poetry is a balm for the soul and we are looking for words and pictures that provide comfort, relief, hope and healing.

Free, Library

Bishop Heber High School: Pop-up Poetry

Poetry will 'pop-up' on displays in different school buildings across the campus to celebrate this year's NPD theme, 'Vision'. Students will be asked to write their own contributions.

Free, Library, Exhibition

National Poetry Day – Event for Schools & Families with Conrad Burdekin

Come and listen to (and write!) some poetry with children’s poet Conrad Burdekin.
Learn how to see the world as a poet does, with special ‘Poetry Vision!’
Conrad will be performing some of his most popular poems and also helping your child to see how easy, and how much fun it can be to write their own poems.
This is a session guaranteed to keep your child entertained and engaged throughout. So sit back, and watch your child become an actual real life poet before your eyes!
Event is free, but please register so we can send you the link to join on the day.
Suitable for ages ranging from 5-12 years.

Performance, Free, Library

Virtual National Poetry Day Workshop – 2020 Vision

Poet Jean Laurie will be offering four online prompts throughout September to inspire your writing. On October 1st, National Poetry Day itself, you can share your own poem and hear what others have written by joining our webinar live with Jean.
Participants will be emailed a webinar link closer to the time. Please register for your place so we can contact you.

Performance, Free, Library, Open mic

Weston Favell Primary School: poetry recitals in class across whole school 1/10/20

Posters will be displayed in advance & teachers signposted to the NPD resources. On 1/10, every class will be encouraged to enjoy a range of poetry throughout the day: hearing poems, as well as reading and writing.

Library

Taverham High School: Visible Poetry Picnic

A picnic for Year 7 students, on the school field, with a socially distanced interactive poetry game, at lunchtime.

If wet, the poetry game to take place in classrooms at lunchtime.

Performance, Free

Poems in the park

Original poems called for, to be displayed around Cannon Hill Park on October 1st and for the month of October as part of Arts All Over The Place and Parks for People

Exhibition

On Uniformity

For this online event Jerwood Compton Poetry Fellow, Yomi Sode has teamed up with photographer Gioncarlo Valentine to present a new work titled On Uniformity.

Through pictures and words, this project explores the experiences of Black British schoolchildren on race, identity and most importantly, expectations set by society. This will be followed as a conversation between both artists regarding the process of the multi-disciplinary project.

About the Jerwood Compton Poetry Takeover

The Fellows for the latest edition; Hafsah Aneela Bashir, Anthony Joseph and Yomi Sode, are celebrating the end of a year of mentorship, reflection and development through the fellowship programme with this new digital programme of online events, content and social media takeovers. Through the programme they will be presenting new work, testing fresh ideas and formats for presenting poetry online as well as engaging in critical conversations about what poetry can be, and is, today.

The Jerwood Compton Poetry Fellowships offer a significant new development opportunity for poets, supporting individuals whose practice encompasses poetry in the broadest artistic sense. The Jerwood Compton Fellowships are designed and managed by Jerwood Arts, with support from Arts Council England and including funds from the Joseph Compton bequest.

Performance, Free, Exhibition

The Poetry Table: How the Arts Saved Our Lockdown

In this discussion the Jerwood Compton Poetry Fellows Anthony, Hafsah and Yomi will talk about and share the art that kept them going during 2020 – music, film, Netflix and poetry.

We welcome you to send in your stories of how art has helped you this year to info@jerwoodarts.org by Wednesday 16 September. The fellows will read and reflect on these during the event, in a celebration of the uplifting power of art, and poetry in particular.

About the Jerwood Compton Poetry Takeover

The Fellows for the latest edition; Hafsah Aneela Bashir, Anthony Joseph and Yomi Sode, are celebrating the end of a year of mentorship, reflection and development through the fellowship programme with this new digital programme of online events, content and social media takeovers. Through the programme they will be presenting new work, testing fresh ideas and formats for presenting poetry online as well as engaging in critical conversations about what poetry can be, and is, today.

The Jerwood Compton Poetry Fellowships offer a significant new development opportunity for poets, supporting individuals whose practice encompasses poetry in the broadest artistic sense. The Jerwood Compton Fellowships are designed and managed by Jerwood Arts, with support from Arts Council England and including funds from the Joseph Compton bequest.

Performance, Free

Golspie High School: Creatures

Celebrating the tiniest and biggest things in life. Contributions from the school community collected and displayed.

Free, Exhibition

Live Poetry Broadcast

Roger Stevens will be reading poems from his latest books and giving out a couple of ideas for writing poems based on this years theme of Vision. It will last around 20 minutes. It will be on the afternoon before NPD (Sept 30th). The platform as yet to be announced.

Performance, Free

Poetry By Heart Advent Calendar Launch

Poetry By Heart are launching a digital poetry advent calendar, which will give you a new poem to enjoy for each day of advent. Get involved on Twitter @poetrybyheart and on the Poetry By Heart website.

Free

Poetry By Heart Live Webinar – Performing a Poem

In this live webinar Poetry By Heart will be discussing approaches to performing a poem out loud and sharing advice for those taking part in the national competition.

Register for Poetry By Heart 2021 on the website to take part.

Free

Tolworth School: National Poetry Day celebrations

Infant and Junior assemblies and a poetry competition on this year's theme of 'Vision'.

Reading, Performance, Free, Prize

First Story Ambassador Poetry Commissions

First Story Student Ambassadors across eight participating schools will be commissioned to write a new poem on the theme of Vision. Students will share their poems on National Poetry Day at a school event and on social media using the hashtags #MyNPDPoem and #NationalPoetryDay.

Reading, Performance, Free

The New Romantics: A Poetry Cabaret with Nine Arches Press

Join contemporary poets Rosie Garland, Gregory Leadbetter and Maria Taylor in

The New Romantics: a Poetry Cabaret

Celebrating National Poetry Day and its theme of VISION.

Thursday 1st October 7.30pm (BST)

This free event will be streamed live through the Nine Arches Press YouTube channel.

Those who register to 'attend' will receive an event link by email the day before the event.

Our trio of poets explore life, death and everything in between. Considering elements of myth, magic, the supernatural and transnatural, with poems that celebrate the contemporary gothic imagination and romanticism.

Hear these poets perform new work from their latest collections, published by Nine Arches Press. Showcasing Rosie Garland What Girls Do in the Dark, Gregory Leadbetter Maskwork and Maria Taylor Dressing for the Afterlife.

More information about these collections and poets can be found here or by clicking into the individual titles above.

In partnership with Birmingham Literature Festival 2020.

Performance, Free

Exploring ‘The Icknield Way’

Discover The Icknield Way through the eyes of Edward Thomas.

This talk given by Guy Cuthbertson will talk about his editing Edward Thomas's prose and especially The Icknield Way (1913), which he is currently working on for the Oxford University Press volume entitled Pilgrimages. The talk will explore Edward Thomas's writing and walking, as well as the Icknield Way, an ancient road that has changed significantly since Thomas's day

Reading, Performance

Edward Thomas as the Superfluous Man

This talk considers Thomas's depiction of himself in his autobiographical prose and poetry as a 'superfluous man' in the light of new ideas about social welfare during the late 19th and early 20th century.

It will argue that Thomas's deployment of this archetype from Russian literature offers a critique of a narrow concept of social progress focused on Liberal-productivism and imperial expansion, as well as allowing him to voice his doubts about his own usefulness. Ultimately, Thomas finds in literature, and especially in poetry, a way of reconnecting to both the cultural and natural environments of the time.

Reading, Performance

A Gathering of Poets

Join poets Daljit Nagra, Yvonne Riddick, Matthew Hollis and Zaffar Kunial for a vibrant session of poetry readings and an exploration of what Edward Thomas means to them and their work.

This exciting session brings together four very different poets each with their unique style and identity and shares their work with you in your own home.

This poetry reading will take place over Zoom.

Performance

2 Poets, 1 Conversation.

'Eaves drop' on the conversation between two old friends and multi award winning poets, Andrew Motion and Michael Longley. This event brings the two friends together in the digital world we currently find ourselves in. Be inspired as they talk about their poetry and of course Edward Thomas and his influence on them over the years as well as topics of the day, such as poetry in schools.

Reading, Performance

Edward Thomas and the Dymock Poets

Literacy history was being made in the village of Dymock in the years leading up to the First World War. The Dymock poets: Lascelles Abercrombie, Rupert Brooke, John Drinkwater, Robert Frost, Wilfrid Gibson and Edward Thomas, were a literary group of the early 20th century who made their homes in the village. This talk will explore the influence that Dymock, and its inhabitants, had on Thomas’s life and work.

Performance

Edward Thomas and Robert Frost – An inspirational friendship!

Join us, along with The Edward Thomas Fellowship and our American friends from the Robert Frost Society to explore the friendship that inspired two of the 20th centuries most beloved poets.

This is a story about two men at the beginnings of their careers confiding in one another about their deepest hopes and aspirations for their art, told through the study of their personal correspondence over the life of their short lived friendship.

Emmy-Award winning American actor Gordon Clapp and British actor Tom Durham will be reading from these letters, while Frost Scholars Don Sheehy, Virginia Smith and Robert Bernard Hass along with Edna Longley, Guy Cuthbertson and Ralph Pite on behalf of the Edward Thomas Fellowship will discuss this storybook literary friendship before opening up to a truly international discussion which you can be part of!

As a member of the audience you will be invited to take part in the final discussion to share your thoughts and views on this truly inspirational friendship.

Performance

The Edward Thomas Literary Festival

Join us for an inspirational three days of talks, walks, screenings, readings, discussion and debate all from the comfort of your own home as Petersfield Museum and The Edward Thomas Fellowship bring you the inaugural Edward Thomas Literary Festival.

This three-day digital event (1st-3rd October) takes the life and work of local poet Edward Thomas and expands and explores not only his own literary work but how he has inspired others, his love of nature and his sense of place and belonging.

For our full programme of events over the festival please visit our website.

Performance

Blackout Poetry WeeLong Event

Due to social distancing, we will be promoting events via our Twitter. We will also have year groups creating their own blackout poetry with the help from our school librarian (who is supplying us book!)
Destruction leading to creation - very poetic!

Exhibition

ISH

After its postponement as part of Verse Festival 2020, Georgie Jones presents a unique performance of her one woman show, filmed in the theatre at Stamford Arts Centre and presented especially for an online audience on National Poetry Day.

Performance

Poets in Schools

The Poetry Society is happy to facilitate workshops with poets in schools. Through our longstanding programme, we are able to match schools up to local poets in different regions across the UK. Please get in touch if you're a school and you are interested in organising a poet's visit.

Performance

Dean Atta Live: Poetry and Q&A

A Facebook Live event with renowned poet Dean Atta. Join us to see Dean perform some of his poems live and a chance to put some of your questions to him.

Performance, Free, Library

Poetry in Lockdown

Poems written by local people about their lockdown experiences will feature on our social media feeds and on digital screens in our libraries

Library

Video and Twitter Q&A with Deborah Alma

Deborah Alma, poet and founder of the Poetry Pharmacy in Shropshire will share a video on our website at 4.30pm talking about the Poetry Pharmacy, prescriptions, remedies and reading poems. This will be followed by a twitter Q&A session from 4.45-5.45.

Performance, Free

Pause for Thought Poetry

As as hospice, we are inviting staff to share their poems and our pastoral care coordinator will send out examples with her regular staff emails / updates.

Reading

Alison Brackenbury: A Poetry Reading

Join poet Alison Brackenbury as she reads poems from her own collection about or linked to Edward Thomas. She will also include extracts from her correspondence with Myfanwy Thomas (Edward's daughter) about the folk songs Edward sang with his family.

This moving reading will be followed by a live Q+A with Alison on Zoom. Full details of how to take part will be sent after you have book ed your place!

Performance

Home to the Hangers: Film Screening and Q+A

Watch the award winning poetry film 'Home to the Hangers' and get the chance to ask the director and and star your questions!

Join us to watch the award winning film 'Home to the Hangers', and have the opportunity to meet the director, A D Cooper and star Alex Bartram .

The stirring and moving words of poet Edward Thomas narrate the story of a traumatised soldier's return to ancient woodland. The familiar, enveloping landscape prompts him to discard his uniform, and with it , seemingly, the ordeals of war. An imaginative blend of poetry and film that sensitively captures the complexities of identity, inspiration and the search for inner peace.

The screening will be hosted as a YouTube premiere and the Q+A held over Zoom. Full details will be sent once places have been booked!

Performance

Hampshire Poets Together: an evening of poetry

Sit back, relax and join us for an evening of local (digital!), Hampshire poetry with Hampshire poets, Stephanie Norgate, Maggie Sawkins, John Haynes, Robyn Bolam and Steve O'Brien.

This poetry reading evening will take place over Zoom, bringing the poets into your living room as they share their work with you. Full details of how to join will be sent to participants after booking their place.

Performance

The Plant-Whisperer: An Eco-story

'I notice things no one else does. I’m not talking about phantom stalks snipped off last season, the ghosts of petals snatched away too soon, seeds never sprouted. I'm talking about vibes: tuning into the chatter of plants.' In this extended poetic monologue, a self-confessed plant-whisperer shares a fictional elegy to a house-plant, radio drama-style, offering a sinister and surreal insight into the side-effects of self-isolation. Using a device that is able to perceive the electromagnetic waves from the surface of plants and translate these into pitch, the story is accompanied by an ambient musical backdrop that allows the plant to sing. Tune into the inner world of plants and use it as a springboard for thinking and writing poetically about your own connection to nature.

Performance

‘Sad Songs of Autumn Mirth’: Lessons on Nature, and Mental Health from Edward Thomas

This talk explores the relationship between nature and mental health in the poetry of Edward Thomas and reflects on the contemporary relevance of the poet's treatment of this subject. Throughout his life Edward Thomas suffered from severe bouts of depression that he examined with unflinching honesty in his poems. Thomas’s mental health was intimately connected with the need for deep engagement with the natural world as a way to ease his suffering. This talk will draw upon close readings of the poems to consider how nature helped Edward Thomas’s mental health, the extent of its impact on his wellbeing and the lessons his poetic reflections on the subject can offer to contemporary understanding of this complex illness.

The talk will be held as a pre-recorded video followed by a live Q+A session with our speaker on Zoom. Full details of how to take part will be sent to participants after booking their place.

Reading

Places of Inspiration: Identifying the Places that Inspired Edward Thomas

Discover some of the locations that inspired the work of poet, Edward Thomas.

Some of the locations of Thomas's poems are obvious, others have been identified through the poet’s writings and some may be composite or imaginary landscapes. However there are a number of poems where more precise identification is possible drawing on his extensive writings and observations, including his field note books and letters, and other contemporary sources as well as by walking the ground.

Our speaker, Nick Denton, who is working to discover these locations, will cover his progress so far, putting his findings in the context of the countryside in England and Wales that Edward Thomas knew and loved.

This talk will take place as a prerecorded presentation followed by a live Q+A with Nick on Zoom. Details of how to take part will be sent after booking your place!

Reading

Highlights from Faber’s History as a Poetry Publisher

Discover the story of how Faber & Faber became one of the biggest and renowned poetry publishing houses in the world with this digital talk!

Founded in 1929, Faber & Faber has published Edward Thomas since 1938, making him part of a list that includes many of the greatest poets of the twentieth century. In this talk, Toby Faber will reveal some of the stories from Faber’s archive that explain how that list was built.

This talk is given by Toby Faber; Toby is a non-fiction writer and novelist who has also been Managing Director of Faber & Faber. His book, Faber & Faber: The Untold Story, was published in 2019.

Reading

A Vision of the Natural World: Poetry Workshop

As part of the Edward Thomas Digital Poetry Festival, Hampshire Poet 2020, Kathryn Bevis, will be leading a nature and poetry-writing workshop online via Zoom.

Whether you’re an experienced poet or a complete beginner keen to explore the wonderful practice of writing poems in response to the living world, you’ll find the prompts and sensory stimulus you need to gather the raw material for your poem, as well as tuition and guidance in how to craft the poem itself.

Access to an outdoor space, however small (a garden, potted plants on a balcony, or even a window box) would be ideal but it’s not a prerequisite. Come prepared to play!

Pass it on Poem

Pupils and staff will, together, write a 'pass it on poem', with every year group completing a stanza each (one tutor group writes the first line, then passes it on to the next to write the second line etc.) The final, whole school poem will be published in the weekly school Literacy & Careers Bulletin.

Free, Library

Poetry Slam

'My Vision for my future, my Vision for my community' performed by Year 7,8 and 9.

Performance, Free, Prize

Positive Poetry! At Callington College

All students are invited to attend a poetry slam where they will be sharing their poetry in a school wide competition

Performance, Free, Prize

Kubla Khan’s NPD Vision

Exploiting metaphor, my event is the poetry writing resource I heave written for this year's 'Vision' NPD, found at the website indicated below.

Free

Poetry on Demand – Staffordshire Libraries

Working with Poetry on Loan, we'll be offering personalised poems to customers. We'll be using our digital platforms to promote the event. Six amazing poets - names tbc - will produce individual poems.

Free, Library

Vernon Park Poetry Recital – every child a poet

We will be hosting a poetry recital via our school Twitter account. We cannot hold a shared event anymore due to the pandemic social distancing but every child will learn and perform a poem on the theme of vision, and see the world as a poet.

Performance, Free

Unsworth Academy: Passion for Poetry

We have a poetry writing competition, the launch of our Poetry by Heart recitation challenge, all English lessons will be focus on poetry and a poem to start each of the lessons around our school.
All staff will also be sharing their favourite poems with the learners and each other.
The people involved are students from 7-11 and staff at the school.

Performance, Library, Prize, Exhibition

Glade Primary Forest Poetry Writing

Year 6 pupils will be writing in the school's woodland area, on the theme of vision, working with Jonny Walker from OtherWise Education. Children's poetry writing will be inspired by Proust's notion that the voyage of discovery is not about visiting strange lands but about having 'other eyes'.

Reading, Performance

Voice@varndean poetry cafe

Our poetry cafe will celebrate poetry. All staff and students at Vardean College are invited to read or to listen to poems that they have found or written themselves

Performance, Free, Open mic

Her 100 Cerdd

Her 100 Cerdd was established in 2012 by Literature Wales, challenging 4 poets to compose 100 original poems in 24 hours. Now in it's 7th year, Her 100 Cerdd is taking a different route this year and sees Literature Wales working with Y Stamp to invite various artists to complete the challenge in a new and unique way.

The event, as with most years, will take place digitally from various households across Wales and beyond.

For further information, visit: www.literaturewales.org

Free, Prize

Write a Haiku – Oundle Library

The Friends of Oundle Library are organising a poetry competition. Open to all ages, we're asking people to write a haiku poem on the theme of 'Life Since 23 March 2020'. That, of course, was the date that lockdown began. Things became very different for everyone that day, and continue to be different even now. But life didn't stop! Up to 3 entries per person and closing date is National Poetry Day on 1 October. First prize is a £25 book token.

Free, Library, Prize

Poetry and politics: Paediatrics 2.0. Reimagining child health for a post COVID-19 world

The global coronavirus pandemic has had deep and far-reaching effects on the way we do paediatrics in the UK, and raised threats to the well being of children and young people. Join us for this unique webinar that seeks to showcase and encourage doctors to use arts (in particular poetry) and advocacy to help re-imagine paediatrics in a post COVID-19 world.

Free

Immersive poetry trail: 2020 VISION

2020 VISION is an immersive (but socially distanced) live poetry trail around the Coal Drops Yard area of King's Cross.

Be taken into a clarity-only zone by five exciting contemporary poets performing newly commissioned work on their insights into activism, friendships, identity and more of the questions we've all been contemplating this year.

Performance, Free

Poetry Cafe, Grove Theatre, Eastbourne – Exploring “Vision”

A Celebration of the 26th Annual NATIONAL POETRY DAY
Exploring “Vision” with Leading Local Poets and Musicians
Be Entertained, Moved and Challenged by Responses and Reflections on the Theme of “Vision”

Performance, Free

Poetry Booth Sessions (Live) with Poetic Impact

POETRY BOOTH SESSION - LIVE

National Poetry Day Call Out

We want you to celebrate National Poetry Day with us ... Poetry Booth style.

We are looking for 5 poets/spoken word artists who would like to take part in a Live Poetry Booth Session in response to this year's theme of 'Vision'. They will be selected at random from the submissions.

The live stream will take place on the 3rd October 2020.

If you would like to take part, please email your response poem to info@poeticimpact.co.uk by 5pm on 21st September 2020.

This can be audio, video or in writing. No offensive or derogatory language should be included in submissions.

As a participant you will receive the following;

- A video of your poem
- A mini photoshoot

On the day, you'll have a 10-minute slot which you can fill with multiple poems inclusive of your response piece.

If you are not selected on this occasion, you will be invited to take part in our regular pre-recorded Poetry Booth Sessions in the nearer future.

Performance, Free, Prize

Bedales at Dunhurst: poetry celebration

Rhythm and rhyme, constructed or free, what ever makes you think of poetry, will be celebrated this week in lessons, with writing workshops, performance poetry, and poetry pop-ups. The week will culminate in a JAW (lecture) hosted by the pupils them selves via our TEAMS network, to perform and present the work of our school, and bring our PODS together.

Performance, Free, Library, Exhibition

Youlgrave All Saints’ Primary School celebrates NPD

Staff will share favourite poems, classes will learn a choral poem to recite from memory. Pupils will enter a 1min performance poetry competition. We will also use some resources from the National Poetry Day site and deliver some NC objectives during the week. Pupils will write their own poems. We will share all of this on our school website.

Performance, Library

Greetland Academy – Let your voice be heard

You have things to say that people need to hear. We want to hear the voices of our pupils loud and clear – ensuring every child recognises the importance of what they have to tell us. With a carefully selected array of poetry we will read, listen and write poems.

We are excited about the opportunities our poetry planning offers. Pupils, teachers – and even parents – will all get a chance to be a poet. Our very own printed publication awaits

Performance, Free

Norwich School National Poetry Day Writing Competition

Norwich School National Poetry Day Writing Competition, 2020 – judged by Piers Harrison-Reid.

Open to all pupils attending secondary schools in Norfolk.

Write a poem on the theme of 'Vision', add your name, school and year group and send as a Word document to jdouglasfield@norwich-school.org.uk by 21st September.

Prizes – book tokens
1st - £30
2nd - £20
3rd - £10

Prize

St Joseph’s Poetry Performances

For National Poetry Day, our whole primary school will be writing and performing their own poems.
We are having the wonderful Joshua Seigal - poet and National Poetry Day ambassador - visit us in late September, to inspire 2 weeks of poetry fun where children across the school will be writing and performing their very own poems.
Each class will vote for the best performer in their class and these will be videoed to share with the whole school and parents.

Performance, Prize

Poetry: Alive & Kicking at Sidcot School

Tara Arkle works across all areas of Sidcot school from drama to maths, finding ways of bringing modern poetry into the lives of the students there: event details t/c

Performance, Free, Library, Open mic

CLiPPA 2020 Shortlist Announcement

On National Poetry Day, the Centre for Literacy in Primary Education (CLPE) will be announcing the 2020 shortlist for this year's CLiPPA (Centre for Literacy in Primary Poetry Award).

Established in 2003, the CLiPPA is the UK’s only award for published poetry for children. The winner will be revealed in a very special poetry show on the 9th October, as part of The Times and The Sunday Times Cheltenham Literature Festival.

Free

CPD: Poetry Matters! Developing a love of poetry in the primary classroom

Drawing from the findings of CLPE’s Poetry in Primary: What We Know Works booklet, this workshop will explore how a focus on poetry in the classroom can increase children’s motivation to read, write and perform.

Through a range of interactive activities, we will investigate how well-chosen poetry and thoughtfully planned activities can increase children’s comprehension of language and engage children in deeper response in reading, as well as how poems can be used to develop children’s own use of language; inspiring them to write creatively and independently.

Participants will be introduced to a wide range of poetry with ideas that can easily be transferred to the classroom, with groups of readers and writers in libraries or other reading groups.

Free

Islesolation Poetry Gallery

Celebrate National Poetry Day by sharing your poetry with us!
We are collecting poetry on the themes of isolation, and living through the lockdown. Please submit your poems to lordlouislibrary@iow.gov.uk or posting them to any Isle of Wight library.
Poetry will be displayed at Newport Library and in an online gallery through Independent Arts. Any age is welcome.

Free, Library, Exhibition

Books for Keeps NPD Poetry Guide

On National Poetry Day, 1 October, Books for Keeps will publish a new mini guide to children’s poetry. The guide will include articles and features as well as interviews and, of course, reviews of new poetry for children.

Free

A Virtual Evening with Simon Armitage

Join the Poet Laureate in his writing shed for live online conversation, poetry reading and audience Q&A via Zoom on Sept 25th from 7.30pm. Simon Armitage will discuss public engagement as a poet and read some of the many poems he’s written for standalone projects, commissions and collaborations. Recently collected in Sandettie Light Vessel Automatic (Faber), this work represents the nature and scale of his poetry and covers an eclectic array of subjects including sculpture, the environment, travel, drama, and media. After the reading, audience members will be invited to put their question to Simon. This event won't be recorded so be sure to log in! Tickets £5.

Reading, Performance, Library

Ibstock Place School National Poetry Day Celebration

A school-wide competition and virtual performance in celebration of National Poetry Day.

Performance, Free, Prize

CLiPPA Poetry Award Show

Come along to the children’s poetry event of the year where the CLiPPA (Centre for Literacy in Primary Poetry Award) winner is revealed. Live streamed from 2pm to 2.35pm on October 9. Hear five poets perform from all the shortlisted collections, watch author and illustrator Chris Riddell draw along and find out who has won the 2020 award, live! There will be news about how your school can be involved in the shadowing scheme too.

Performance, Prize

Kensington + Chelsea Art Week Poetry Display: Call for Entries

Kensington + Chelsea Art Week is a ten-day festival that shines a spotlight on the area's unexpected and unique cultural variety across 100+ venues, including studios, museums, galleries, exhibition spaces and businesses, attracting local and international audiences.

To celebrate the third edition of Kensington + Chelsea Art Week (KCAW) and in order to give greater visibility to locally based creative talent, KCAW20 is launching an open call to poets and spoken word artists to submit poems to be displayed in the windows of participating venues throughout the borough of Kensington and Chelsea.

Poets and writers are invited to submit work that responds to the curatorial theme 'Transformation'. Selected poems will be displayed printed on window vinyls in participating venues, including galleries, stores, and creative spaces across the West London borough.

Click on the link to read the full project brief and find out how to apply.

Prize

National Poetry Day Competition and Open Mic

To celebrate National Poetry Day we'll be having a school wide poetry competition for with different age categories, as well as an open mic.

Prize, Open mic

Strictly Speaking at The Wells Maltings

Come and share your original poem or one that you love with the audience in a relaxed at The Wells Maltings. There will be a bar, music and poems to celebrate National Poetry Day hosted by Briony Bax, Editor of Ambit Magazine and Simon Daykin, Chief Executive of The Wells Maltings. Bar opens at 6.30 poems start at 7pm. All are welcome. £5 per person.

Performance, Open mic

National Poetry Day – a celebration of poetry

Reading and writing poetry to celebrate National Poetry Day.

Reading, Free

BONN – Celebration of UK National Poetry Day – 1 Oct 2020

An event in English for people living near Bonn in Germany. All are welcome. Come and celebrate UK National Poetry Day!

We plan performances, workshops, an open mic section and exhibition.

The organiser, The Rainbow Poems, is a website specially for anyone wanting to share, through creative writing, thoughts and feelings about uncertainty, change, trauma, grief... and reach towards acceptance, beauty, contentment. The theme of Vision is perfect!

Performance, Free, Open mic, Exhibition

Poetry from the lookout

Free to attend open air open mic readings by Readers from Suffolk Poetry Society and more.

Performance, Free, Open mic