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Poetry in Motion - Community
Poetry in Motion Community is New Belfast’s literary programme for local writers and aspiring writers.
Poetry has been at the core of New Belfast activities since our inception. This project strand facilitates activity in any medium that permits creative engagement with text and performance skills.
Participants learn a wide range of practical transferable skills. Writers do not just write, they edit, plan, schedule, market themselves, negotiate with others and speak publicly. Project based group work allows all participants to take an active part in the creative process.
In addition to workshop activity, Poetry in Motion Community calls for public submissions of poetry annually. Submissions are compiled alongside the work of communities into professional publications, often publishing aspiring poets for the first time.
The programme brings poetry to a wide audience. The work of local poets has been published in several publications and displayed on approximately 550 poetry posters “on the buses” to an estimated audience of over 100,000. It has also organised over 100 poetry performances, including 4 city-wide poetry slams and BBC Radio 4 Poetry Slam – All Ireland Heat (2009).
Poetry in Motion Community’s poetry collections are featured in the Publication page.
'Write Up There'
Call for Public Submissions for an Audio Anthology of Poetry and Spoken Word
As part of the current Poetry in Motion programme, New Belfast Community Arts Initiative is putting out the call for your voice.
Events will be taking place across the city to celebrate work that has been undertaken by our poets in residence with groups from the local community and through our open workshops process. We are extending the invitation to you to submit a poem or piece of spoken word art at one of these events.
The programme this year is entitled “Write Up There” in keeping with the theme adopted by sculptor Wolfgang Buttress for his sculpture entitled “Rise” soon to be seen at the Broadway roundabout.
If you have a poem that you feel needs to rise from your inner thoughts then why not put pen to paper and bring your words along to one of these public events?
| Monday 25th January | 10.30 - 12.30 | NICVA, Duncairn Gardens, Antrim Road |
| Monday 25th January | 6.30pm – 8pm | Ballynafeigh House, Ormeau Road |
| Tuesday 26th January | 6pm - 8pm | Spectrum Centre, Shankill Road |
- Poems should ideally be not longer than 90 seconds when read aloud.
- If you would like to submit more than one piece for consideration for the upcoming audio anthology celebrating this work then please bring a second poem with you. If there is time, readers will have an opportunity to read a second poem when everyone has had the opportunity to read once.
- If you have a poem that you would like someone else to read for you this can also be accommodated. Please contact us for further details.
- Please bring an extra copy of your poem, preferably typed, or email a copy in advance to chelley@newbelfastarts.org marking subject as “submission” ensuring that you let us know which event you will be attending.
Alternatively, you can send in your poetry as hard copy (i.e. on paper) or recorded as an audio file on disc by Monday 25th January. You need to give us your name, address, telephone number and email address (if you have one). We cannot return poetry nor can we guarantee publication but you will be notified if your poem does make it through our selection process.
Poets, whose poems are selected for possible inclusion in the anthology, will be invited to record their poems at a further live recording event on Saturday 6th February.
Poetry in Motion is funded by Arts Council NI (principal funder) and Belfast City Council.
For further information contact Chelley McClear, Poetry in Motion Coordinator.