Nominations are now open for Southbank Centre’s Poetry Parnassus – set to be the largest poetry festival ever staged in the UK, bringing together a poet from each of the competing Olympic nations.
From 26 June to 2 July 2012, 205 poets will come to Southbank Centre and tour the UK for a week-long celebratory gathering, as part of the finale of the Cultural Olympiad; the London 2012 Festival. The project, led by Artistic Director Jude Kelly and Artist in Residence Simon Armitage, will include readings, workshops and a final gala event with all the poets. Every poet will also contribute a poem in their own language to be published in The World Record, a book which will champion translation and be housed in the Southbank Centre’s Saison Poetry Library.
Please nominate your favourite poet. Anyone in the world can recommend up to three poets from any Olympic country, in order of preference:
1st Place: Gold Poet
2nd Place: Silver Poet
3rd Place: Bronze Poet.
The deadline for nominations is Friday 22 July, so please make sure you fill out the form by then.
A panel including Simon Armitage will then shortlist and the final selection of poets will be announced in spring 2012.
You can listen to Simon Armitage talking about Poetry Parnassus on the Today Programme.
