Inspire wins Arts Council grant to expand Poetry Festival

An Arts Council award will help Inspire build upon its past success and take live poetry and spoken word events to the largest libraries in Nottinghamshire.

Southwell Library Poetry Festival has been a favourite in the county’s literary calendar since it took up residence in the library in 1997. Over the years, audiences have had the chance to enjoy an amazing array of quality poetry from names including Carol Ann Duffy, Simon Armitage, Lemn Sissay and Daljit Nagra.

Now, as the festival reaches its tenth year, Inspire who delivers culture, learning and libraries on behalf of Nottinghamshire County Council will be taking poets and poetry to other Nottinghamshire libraries. With a new name, multiple venues and funding from the Arts Council, the Inspire Poetry Festival will take place from 11 – 16 July at library venues including:

• Mansfield Central

• West Bridgford

• Worksop

• Southwell

Through live performance, readings, workshops, events with a twist and more, audiences will be invited to be inspired by poetry.

Peter Gaw, Chief Executive of Inspire commented; “Taking this much-loved event across the county gives us the opportunity to inspire more people with the power of poetry and further establish Nottinghamshire as a reading county.”

Details of the line-up will be announced soon, on the Inspire website and via social media.