Poet in the City
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| Motto | Putting poetry on a platform |
|---|---|
| Formation | 1998 (as a project of the Poetry Society); an independent charity since 2006 |
| Type | Arts and education |
| Legal status | Registered charity |
| Purpose | Creating new audiences for poetry through an eclectic programme of events, commissions and education work |
| Headquarters | King's Cross, London |
| Location |
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Chief Executive
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Isobel Colchester |
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Budget
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£148,673 |
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Staff
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2 |
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Volunteers
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50+ |
| Website | www |
Poet in the City is a prominent London-based poetry charity, specialising in large-scale live events aimed at new audiences for poetry. Founded in 1998 as a project of the Poetry Society, it became an independent charity in 2006. Open to anyone, and free to join, it has a current membership of over 4,000 people and runs about 50 poetry events a year, mainly in central London, including about 12 events a year at Kings Place, an arts venue situated just north of King’s Cross station. They work with leading UK and international poets, celebrated actors and experts from across the arts and wider social sectors to present poetry in a new way.
Providing a dynamic platform to contemporary poets, curate imaginative and exciting themed events and bring classic poetry to life for a 21st-century audience, through their work, Poet in the City have fostered a genuine and growing appetite for accessible, challenging and inspiring poetry performances. Poet in the City has a thriving volunteer community and also works regularly with young people through education and employability schemes
In April 2011, Poet in the City was offered National Portfolio Funding by Arts Council England, meaning that it is receiving regular funding for a period of four years from 2012.
Poet in the City was founded in 1998 as a project of the Poetry Society, by Rosamund McCarthy, a lawyer at Bates Wells Braithwaite. It involved a number of City of London-based organisations, mainly law firms, in an annual fund-raising effort. Monies raised were used to deliver schools visits, placing poets in the classroom, and encouraging pupils to read and write poetry. Early successes included a John Donne event at the Chapter House of St Paul's Cathedral and an open-air event on the steps of the Royal Exchange on National Poetry Day.
Poet in the City is managed by a board of trustees chaired by Renato Labi. Its Chief Executive is Isobel Colchester. She succeeded Graham Henderson, who was in post from July 2003 until March 2014.
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