Poet in the City and the British Library are collaborating to establish a new approach to touring exhibitions. Over three years, Poet in the City will commission new poetry and create events across England to tell the story of British Library exhibitions.
Working closely with local communities and artists in the North, South East and South West, we will present locally-specific versions of the exhibitions. Libraries in Leeds, Newcastle, Sheffield, Reading and Exeter will become homes for ambitious live poetry events – creating new opportunities to celebrate and share exhibitions which would otherwise be difficult to access for local people in their city.
By bringing together poets, curators and local people to create exciting new work that weave local stories into the narrative of British Libraries exhibitions, we’ll be animating and amplifying the exhibitions in ways that resound specifically within the local community. The resulting commissions and curation will be presented in exciting and ambitious ways, from dazzling library lates to poetry busking, poetic residencies, panel discussions and creative installations in public spaces.
Bringing the British Library's "Unfinished Business: The Fight For Women's Rights" to life in Newcastle, with poets Degna Stone, Ellen Moran and Sky Hawkins. Read more
Bringing the British Library's "Anglo-Saxon Kingdoms: Art, Word, War" to life in Sheffield, with poets Rachel Bower, Kayo Chingonyi and Joe Kriss. Read more
Bringing the British Library’s "Windrush: Songs in a Strange Land" exhibition to life in Leeds, with poets Malika Booker, Vahni Capildeo and Khadijah Ibrahiim. Read more
Turning the volume up on Caribbean culture in the UK, poet Khadijah Ibrahiim invites you to a Sound System symposium retracing the roots of Sound System Culture in Leeds. Read more
Leeds Libraries' inaugural ‘Late’ event, bringing the library to life after hours through an evening of colour and creativity celebrating the explosive impact of Caribbean culture on Leeds and the UK. Read more
Award-winning poet Vahni Capildeo hosted a poetic rhyme-and-ride as our poetry buskers made the trip on Leeds’ buses one to remember. Read more