Chester Cathedral’s Poet-in-Residence has announced the Cathedral’s very first Young People’s Poetry Competition.
The competition, which is open to 16-25 year olds, invites poems of up to forty lines based on the Cathedral’s 2020 theme of ‘Journeys’.
Julia McGuinness, the Poet-in-Residence says “Journeys can take many forms across distance and through time; over outer landscape or inner territory. Poems can also take many forms. We are open to imaginative and creative approaches to the theme and on the page.”
There are two categories – 16-18 years and 19-25 years, and prizes will be awarded for first, second and third place. The closing date for entries – which must be made electronically – is Tuesday 31 March 2020.
The competition will be judged by Carole Bromley, a York-based poet with three collections to her name and a fourth due out this year. Winner of a number of prizes, including The Bridport and the 2019 Hamish Canham Award, Carole has also judged several poetry competitions, including the YorkMix Poetry Prize, the Grey Hen competition and the Settle Sessions competition.
The winners will be announced in early May and receive their prizes at a prize-giving event on Wednesday 20 May.
Chester Cathedral’s Canon Missioner and Vice Dean, Canon Jane Brooke, says, “I’m delighted that Chester Cathedral can host a poetry competition, and look forward to reading the winning entries.”
Full details, including Conditions of Entry can be found on Chester Cathedral’s website at chestercathedral.com/about/poet-in-residence/