WINCHESTER Poetry Festival is calling on poets from around the world to submit their best, unpublished work to be in with a chance of winning £1,000.

The biennial festival has announced this year’s judge as multi-award winning poet and author, Zaffar Kunial. The Birmingham born poet said: “I’m really looking forward to reading your poems, and whatever their subject and whatever their style. Good luck.”

Hampshire Chronicle:

Poems can be on any subject and in any form or style but must be written in English and be no more than 40 lines. 

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Prizes are available for the top three as well as special prize for the best poem by a Hampshire resident.

The winners will be announced live at the awards ceremony with the competitors having no prior knowledge of how they’ve done.

Winchester Poetry Festival will publish all the winning and commended poems in a competition anthology which is also launched at the ceremony.

This prize-giving event at the Arc forms part of the festival programme from October 13 to 15.

Chair of Winchester Poetry Festival, Jane Bryant, said: “The Winchester Poetry Prize has grown in popularity since its inception in 2016.  It acts as a creative catalyst for some tremendous poets and writers locally, nationally, and internationally. We welcome entries from all writers.  Last year we were delighted to receive poems from over 2000 people from more than 35 countries.  What a fabulous indication of the value of poetry in people’s professional and personal lives.”

Lead sponsor Paris Smith’s managing partner, Huw Miles, said: "We are honoured to continue our support for an inspiring and significant platform celebrating the power of words and the vital role poetry plays in our society.

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"The arts - and poetry, in particular - possess the unique ability to capture emotions, challenge perspectives and foster connections between people. The poetry prize is a fantastic opportunity for both established and emerging poets to showcase their talent. 

"Our partnership with this esteemed competition reaffirms our commitment to supporting the creative community and helping to amplify the voices of these gifted writers, whose works enrich our world in so many ways."

The poetry prize is an annual competition attracting writers of all abilities from across the world. Entry costs £6 for the first poem and £5 for subsequent poems.

2020 winner Lewis Buxton set up a pay-it-forward scheme for participants to support emerging poets who can’t afford to enter.

The competition closes at 11.59pm on July 31. Poems can be submitted by email or by post. For more information on how the scheme works go to www.winchesterpoetryfestival.org/prize.