Winchester Poetry Festival has announced the launch of its Winchester Poetry Prize for the ninth consecutive year.

Known for attracting around 2,000 original, unpublished poems annually from all corners of the world, the competition is introducing a fresh twist.

Following a healthy 15 per cent contribution from local talents last year, the festival is rechristening the Hampshire Prize as the Kathryn Bevis Prize, acknowledging the rising poetic voice of Kathryn Bevis in recent years.

The competition judge Clare Shaw will be deciding the winning poem. The Kathryn Bevis Prize aims to celebrate the best poem penned by a Hampshire-based poet while honouring Bevis's significant contributions to the local poetry scene.

The winner will be awarded a year's tuition from The Writing School and a cash prize of £150. The Winchester Poetry Prize accepts poems on any subject, in any form or style. However, entries must be no longer than 40 lines and penned in English.

The winner stands to earn a grand prize of £1,000.

Chair of Winchester Poetry Festival, Jane Bryant, said: "Winchester Poetry Festival feels honoured to rename the Hampshire Prize, the Kathryn Bevis Prize.

"Kathryn is now a nationally recognised, award-winning poet who not only brings her success as a poet because of the quality and depth of her writing and the expressive insights that this gives, but she also brings a record of commitment to growing and developing poets and poetry writing and expression in others.

"A former Hampshire Poet, she has worked with many diverse communities including with those experiencing challenges in their lives, and with emerging poets, offering wisdom, expertise and most importantly recognising and growing their potential. We are really delighted to honour her work in this way."

The competition concludes at midnight on July 31. Entries may be sent via post or email. A pay-it-forward scheme set in place by 2020's champion, Lewis Buxton, continues to flourish, supporting emerging poets who can't afford the entry fees.

The winners of the 2024 Winchester Poetry Prize will be announced on Saturday, October 5, as part of Winchester Poetry Day at The ARC, Winchester. Each longlisted poem will be read live and included in a commemorative anthology available for purchase.

For further details or to enter the competition, please visit the Winchester Poetry Festival website.