Buxton Poetry Competition
This year's Buxton Poetry Competition is to be judged by Ann and Peter Sansom, directors of The Poetry Business.
Our theme this year is ‘A Breath of Fresh Air’. Poets are invited to use their imagination to interpret this theme which could refer to a time, a place, a person, a feeling or something completely different. Poems do not have to be connected to Buxton or any other location or event, so get creative!
Buxton Poetry Competition is very proud to be working with Barnardo’s again in 2010, who will be combining work in their own projects with our competition.
Competition Categories
Open Poetry—Poets aged 19 and over
Young People’s Poetry—Young people aged between 12 and 18*
Children’s Poetry—Children aged up to 11* (age as of 1st April 2010)
Competition Theme
Poems should be inspired by our theme: ‘A Breath of Fresh Air’.
Prizes
- Five finalists from each category will be selected by a panel of judges
- The first three winners from the Open Category will receive a cash prize (£300, £200, £100)
- The first three winners from the Young People’s and Children’s categories will receive Waterstone’s book tokens
- The 15 finalists will have their work exhibited in the Devonshire Dome during Buxton Festival 2010, as well as being announced in the local media and listed on the University and Festival’s websites
- The three first-place poems will be published in the 2010 Buxton Festival programme
- The 15 finalists will be invited to an Awards Event at the Devonshire Dome during Buxton Festival 2010
- The three first-place poets will have an opportunity to read their poems at the Awards Event
Competition Rules
- Buxton Poetry Competition opens on National Poetry Day on 8 October 2009
- The closing date for entries is 1 April 2010
- Poems must not exceed 40 lines and must be typed on one side of A4 white paper with no illustrations
- Poems are judged anonymously and the name of the poet must not appear on the poem
- All poems must be accompanied by a completed entry form
- Poems must be the original work of the author and previously unpublished
- Maximum three poems per entrant
- Each poem should have a title
- Receipt of entries can be con firmed if a SAE is included with the entry form
- The 15 finalists will be informed after 1 June
- The judges’ decision is final
- Copyright remains with the poet. However finalists’ poems may be used by competition organisers free of charge in promotional material or display for up to two years
- Submitted poems may be printed in the media or featured on local radio
- Please complete and return the form to enter the competition. Download an entry form from the Poetry Business website here.
- The cost to submit a poem is £5.
- Entries to the young people’s and children’s categories are free
- Entries cannot be submitted by email
- Payment by cheque is accepted; please make cheque payable to The University of Derby
- Payment by cash is only accepted if the entry form and poem are delivered in person to Christine Sweetmore at the Devonshire Dome (Devonshire Road, Buxton)
The Poetry Business receives financial assistance from Arts Council England.
