For the fifth year, Nexus are to run a poetry competition, launched on National Poetry Day once again. Both experienced poets and those who are new to poetry are encouraged to submit their entries and the lucky winners will get to see their work displayed on the Tyne and Wear Metro network.
Entries are now open and will remain so until 17th October. The competition is organised by Nexus alongside the Poetry Book Society. The winner and three runners up will see their poems displayed on large posters at Longbenton. The winner will also get a £100 Waterstones voucher and free membership to The Poetry Book Society whilst runners up will get a £50 Waterstones voucher.
The theme for this year is Tyne and Wear and can be submitted at https://www.nexus.org.uk/poetry. Entries will be judged by published poet Rowan McCabe and representatives from Nexus.
David Turton, Marketing Services Manager at Nexus, said: “We’re delighted to use Longbenton Metro station once more to display poetry. Last year we received over 300 entries, which is a fantastic response and it’s a real celebration of Metro’s long association with the arts. Metro serves people across Tyne and Wear, home to towns and cities, coastlines and rivers, a rich history, cultural centres, sporting venues and over one million people. We can’t wait to read these poems on our region.”
Alice Mullen, manager of the Poetry Book Society, said: “The Poetry Book Society is delighted to again partner with Nexus on the annual Metro Poetry Prize. The standard of the poems is always exceptional, and although we’re a national organisation, we’re based in Newcastle, so we’re very excited to read this year’s entries on the theme of ‘Tyne and Wear’. Poetry can offer comfort and hope, as well as sparking curiosity and creativity in both the writers and the readers– so we’d strongly encourage everyone who cares about words, and this wonderful region, to get involved.”