We are looking for Crawley’s first ever Poet Laureate. A poet who can help celebrate the town, connect with local people through poetry, and encourage more people to get involved in poetry.
This is a new two-year role for a poet with experience of writing and sharing their work in public, and an interest in working with communities. The Poet Laureate will help bring poetry into everyday life in Crawley, whether that’s through performances, workshops, events, collaborations, or new creative projects inspired by the town and the people who live here.
We know ‘Poet Laureate’ can sound quite formal, but for us this role is really about using poetry to connect with people, reflect Crawley’s many communities, and create opportunities for local voices and stories to be heard.
The deadline for applications is 5pm FRIDAY 28th AUGUST.
What the role will involve
As Crawley Poet Laureate, you might:
- write and share poems inspired by Crawley, its places, people and stories
- perform at local events and civic occasions
- lead or take part in poetry workshops and creative activities
- work with local groups, schools, libraries, arts organisations or community spaces
- help make poetry feel welcoming, relevant and accessible to a wide range of people across the town
The role will run for two years. In the first year, the Poet Laureate will be expected to take part in up to 6 events across Crawley. The role will also be supported in its first year by former Birmingham Poet Laureate Roy McFarlane.
Who we’re looking for
We’d love to hear from poets who have a connection to Crawley, either living or working there, and who are excited by the idea of sharing poetry with local communities. You might already have experience of performing your work, leading workshops, collaborating with others, or creating projects that bring people together through poetry.
We’re interested in poets who can connect with a wide range of people and who are thoughtful about inclusion, accessibility and representation in their work.
How to apply
Download the application form. You can apply either by filling in the paper version of the application form and posting it to: Crawley Poet Laureate, New Writing South, The Old Courthouse, 118 Church Street, Brighton, BN1 1UT.
Or you can email the form to: hello@newwritingsouth.com
The deadline for applications is 5pm FRIDAY 28th AUGUST.
The Crawley Laureate Poet Scheme is supported by Arts Council England.
