Worldpool presents: A National Poetry Day festival

Wordpool, Blackpool’s popular festival of words, is back for a very special celebration of poetry on National Poetry Day.

The special event, on Thursday 2 October at Central Library, will feature a host of talented poets as well as the announcement of Wordpool 2014’s poetry competition winner.

Since the Wordpool festival in July, poetry judge, Polly Atkin, has had quite a task choosing a winner from the over 100 entries received from all over the UK.

The standard of entries was so high that as well as choosing first, second and third prize winners, she has also awarded a series of special commendations for poems that used the Blackpool lights theme particularly well.

The unique first prize will see the winning poem get put up in lights as part of the world famous Blackpool Illuminations – giving the work an incredible potential audience of up to 3m people!

It will then get its very own Switch-On to signify its passage into illuminations history!

An animation of the winning poem has now been created by artists Emily and Anne and is ready for the switch to be flicked on the big day.

Cllr Christine Wright, Blackpool Council’s cabinet member for culture and heritage, said: “We’ve got a great day of fun lined up for National Poetry Day.

“As well as featuring a host of poets at Central Library, we will be taking a special trip to see the winning entry to our 2014 poetry competition honoured with a very special display as part of the Blackpool Illuminations.

“I’m sure it will be a fabulous day and I hope the community will come along and support it.”

Tickets for the competition event, which runs from 6pm until 8pm in Central Library are £5 and must be booked from Central Library in advance.

The cost includes a hot pot supper and coach travel through the Illuminations tableaux with a special stop for the switch on of the illuminated poem.

Other Wordpool Poetry Festival are taking place throughout the day at Central Library including activities on the national theme of Remembrance.

They include:

10.15am – 12.15pm – Always in My Heart – A poetry workshop inspired by the memorial plaques on benches in Stanley Park led by David Riley and Vicky Ellis.

1.30am – 2.30pm – Walking on Wyre – Presented by Dead Good Poets’ Society with special guest Sarah Hymas.

3pm – 5pm – Remembrance – Poems and performances by Live Poets and Poetry People

Entry to the events costs £1 and includes refreshments.

For more information call the Library on 478080.