Ledbury Poetry Festival is an inclusive, international and inspirational celebration of poetry and spoken word over ten fabulously busy days, live in Ledbury and online to the world. This year the Festival runs 28th June – 7th July 2024.
Ledbury Poetry Festival are pleased to announce two guest curators for 2024 who will be programming events over both weekends.
Stephanie Sy-Quia will be a Guest Curator at the Festival in 2024. Stephanie is a writer and printmaker based in London. Her debut Amnion (Granta Poetry) has received an Eric Gregory Award, a Somerset Maugham Award, and the Forward Prize for Best First Collection. Stephanie is a Ledbury Poetry Critic.
Stephanie Sy-Quia says: Ledbury is such a fantastic home for poetry. This year, I’m really looking forward to programming some more hybrid music/poetry events, making use of the many wonderful open-air spaces around Ledbury, and emphasising collaboration between poets/artists.
Will Harris will be a Guest Curator at the Festival in 2024. A London-based writer, he is the author of the poetry books RENDANG (2020) and Brother Poem (2023), both published by Granta in the UK and by Wesleyan University Press in the US, and the essay Mixed-Race Superman (Peninsula) which came out in 2018. He has won the Forward Prize for Best First Collection and been shortlisted for the T.S. Eliot Prize. He co-translated Habib Tengour’s Consolatio (Poetry Translation Centre) with Delaina Haslam in 2022, and helps facilitate the Southbank New Poets Collective with Vanessa Kisuule. Will is a Ledbury Poetry Critic Mentor.
Will Harris says: I’m really interested in all the forms that poetry can take. And so it’s very exciting to be able to invite to Ledbury a range of poets, writers and artists whose work – across different mediums – I’ve found formally and politically inspiring.
Find out more about Ledbury Poetry Critics here: Ledbury Poetry Critics – Ledbury Poetry
Will and Stephanie will be writing a blog where they reveal their programming thoughts and choices over the next few months on our Festival page: Ledbury Poetry Festival – Ledbury Poetry
Ledbury Poetry Festival happens in a picturesque town, surrounded by hills and orchards. Poets from all over the world gather to perform, write, read and listen to poetry in performances, conversations, masterclasses, walks, talks and films, music and exhibitions. It’s all yours at Ledbury – dig deep into interesting ideas, take in poetry over a pint, craft your own writing style, or showcase your skills in the slam. The full programme will be announced on 18 April. Sign up to Ledbury Poetry monthly newsletter to be sure to hear all the latest information About Ledbury Poetry
For more information please contact Becky.shaw@ledburypoetry.org.uk
Notes to Editors
Ledbury Poetry is Inclusive, International, Inspirational
Ledbury Poetry is an arts based charity registration number 1059465
Ledbury Poetry creates live and online programmes throughout the year culminating in Ledbury Poetry Festival each July. Now in its 29th year, it is the largest and most international celebration of poetry and spoken word in Britain making Ledbury the home of poetry in the UK.
Ledbury Poetry Festival runs 28th June – 7th July 2024.
Ledbury Poetry has moved to The Barrett Browning Institute in Ledbury. Our new home is a hive of activity and welcomes visitors to workshops and events live in Ledbury and online throughout the year. Ledbury Poetry House also hosts the Box Office and a Bookshop.
Ledbury Poetry Critics launched its mentorship programme, recruiting 12 critics of colour, in 2017, and has been responsible for increasing the visibility of poets and critics of colour. There are now over 35 critics within the programme founded by Sandeep Parmar and Sarah Howe with support from Ledbury Poetry. Ledbury Poetry Critics introduce and chair events at Ledbury Poetry Festival. Full information on the programme can be found here: www.ledburypoetry.org.uk/home/ledbury-poetry-critics
Ledbury Poetry Player ensures that events are available for everyone around the world to enjoy.
Ledbury Poetry Competition runs annually. Prizes include £1,000 and a week’s poetry course with our partner, Arvon. www.ledburypoetry.org.uk/competition
Ledbury Poetry Salons, Workshops, and Masterclasses are delivered live and online throughout the year. Look for programmes on our What’s On page www.ledburypoetry.org.uk
Ledbury Poetry Learning projects include work in schools, a monthly young writers group, the ‘Crucial Creators’ and learning opportunities for 16-25 year olds, as well as volunteering training and opportunities for all ages – all of which develop and enhance Ledbury as the Town of Poetry.
For all information and to explore our programmes please visit: www.ledburypoetry.org.uk
Sign up to our mailing list for all the latest news from Ledbury Poetry sent directly to you every month: www.ledburypoetry.org.uk
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For further information please contact Becky Shaw: becky.shaw@ledburypoetry.org.uk
Ledbury Poetry is grateful for support from all our funders