The High Wolds Poetry Festival, funded by the Arts Council of England via the Humber Museums Partnership, is back again this September. The festival is taking entries for festival reading slots and book submissions, with this year’s theme being around Wealth & Work. All submissions and entries are free.
Poem entries are accepted until midnight Friday 30 August and can be any length and on any theme.
The festival is free to enter and will hold an open mic at North Dalton Village Hall on Saturday 28 September from 11am to 6pm.
A selection of work submitted will be published in a unique, free, custom designed book and there will be home made locally sourced food and drink available throughout the day.
Festival director Julian F Woodford said “This open mic, one-day festival is for absolutely anyone of any age to share their own or other people’s poetry.
“We want poets of any ability, experience, age and background to read or listen on the day with poems of any content, form, tone, style. It might be inspired by the Yorkshire Wolds or by your own experiences in general, it’s really up to you.”
Nial Adams, Museums and Archives Manager at East Riding of Yorkshire Council, said: “The High Wolds Poetry Festival is now in its incredible sixth year and it’s become a fixture of the East Riding cultural scene.
“The festival is great because it’s fun, easy going and a day where you can be moved to tears one moment and roaring with laughter the next. I highly recommend everyone come along for the ride!”
Councillor Nick Coultish, cabinet member for culture, leisure and tourism at East Riding of Yorkshire Council, said “It’s fantastic to see the High Wolds Poetry festival return for a sixth year. An exciting new addition to the cultural life of the East Riding, I encourage all members of the community to get involved, send in their submissions, and attend the festival this summer.
Assistant Curator – Community, Caroline Coath, said: “To support this year’s theme of Wealth & Work the team have been running free workshops at relevant sites within the East Riding with the idea of helping poets to produce work in advance of the closing date for book submissions.
“Our first was Skidby Mill, where we looked at rural industry, and as well as producing poetry, one participant produced a song! The next one took place at St Mary’s church in Beverley where the wonderful artworks and those that created them were used as inspiration.
“Our final free workshop will take place at Kilham village hall on Saturday July 27th between 11am and 2.30pm, where we will use the markets and shops of the area for ideas.”
For further information on the workshop or to book a place email highwoldspoetry@gmail.com
Entries for the custom-designed festival book are free and close at midnight on Friday, August 30th and can be sent by email to highwoldspoetry@gmail.com or by post to The Festival Director, The High Wolds Poetry Festival, East Riding Museums, Treasure House, Champney Road, Beverley HU17 8HE.
Entries for the Open Mic are open until midnight Friday September 27, the day prior to the festival.
