PRESS RELEASE 2nd April 2024
LEDBURY POETRY ANNOUNCES NATIONAL LOTTERY HERITAGE FUNDING
Ledbury Poetry has been successful in securing income from the National Lottery Heritage Fund (NLHF) and awarded £98,640.
This success is built on the 27 years of support received from committed volunteers, funders, sponsors and the community of Ledbury, and on the year-round activity with community groups, emerging writers and schools.
This funding will enable Ledbury Poetry to develop its organisational capacity, including the skill and resilience to manage and care for a national heritage asset and to subsequently run a major capital redevelopment at the Barrett Browning Institute (BBI), one of the town’s most familiar buildings, at present owned by Ledbury Places, who collaborate generously in the project.
This will be the first phase of the development of the building to offer meaningful work with community groups and the sustained success of Ledbury Poetry Festival which takes place in July. The ambition of reaching out to local, national and international audiences, is a key reason why NLHF have agreed to fund the vision for the BBI as Ledbury Poetry House.
Peter Arscott, Trustee of Ledbury Poetry said: “Through this project, which we hope will be the pre-cursor for a bid for restoration works to the NLHF and Historic England, we aim first, to move forward as an organisation and build our resilience. Ledbury Poetry’s ability to conserve and share the BBI’s historic environment will be enhanced. Our re-imagining and redevelopment of the BBI as Ledbury Poetry House will contribute to place-making and the recognition of Ledbury Poetry Town”.
The funding will review and extend current feasibility reports. It will support the work of Ledbury Poetry House Manager in ensuring regular opening of Ledbury Poetry House, a year-round programme of events and increased volunteer engagement to deliver these activities. For more information about the work of Ledbury Poetry or to get involved with support and volunteering, look online www.ledburypoetry.org.uk
About The National Lottery Heritage Fund:
Our vision is for heritage to be valued, cared for and sustained for everyone, now and in the future. That’s why as the largest funder for the UK’s heritage we are dedicated to supporting projects that connect people and communities to heritage, as set out in our strategic plan, Heritage 2033. Heritage can be anything from the past that people value and want to pass on to future generations. We believe in the power of heritage to ignite the imagination, offer joy and inspiration, and to build pride in place and connection to the past. Over the next 10 years, we aim to invest £3.6billion raised for good causes by National Lottery players to make a decisive difference for people, places and communities.
www.heritagefund.org.uk Follow @HeritageFundUK on Twitter/X, Facebook and Instagram #NationalLottery #HeritageFund
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 28th 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 House, The Barrett Browning Institute in Ledbury is our new home and is a hive of activity welcoming visitors to workshops and events live in Ledbury and online throughout the year. Ledbury Poetry House 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 and the Guest Curators have been appointed from this programme: Will Harris and Stephanie Sy-Quia. 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 Word Crew’ 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 its funders
