Six rising north stars: New Northern Poets for 2025 Announced

This is the third year of the New Northern Poets programme, which discovers and develops new writing talent in the north

Six emerging poets based in the North of England have been announced as the 2025 cohort of New Northern Poets. Nóra Blascsók, Rachel Curzon, Nigeen Dara, Jamie Field, Vanessa Napolitano and Laura Strickland will participate in a paid mentoring and development programme run by the University of Leeds Centre for Poetry and Word Up North.

The six selected New Northern Poets will receive a unique opportunity to improve their practice, receive 1:1 mentoring from experienced writers at the University of Leeds Poetry Centre and join a network of peers to grow their confidence and experience in both writing and performing their poetry.

The six chosen poets will also get the chance to record a poetry-themed podcast, run a series of poetry workshops, lead a guided poetry reading group and perform their poems at a showcase during the Ilkley Literature Festival (programmed by Word Up North) this October.

A collaboration between Word Up North and the University of Leeds Centre for Poetry, this is the third year of the New Northern Poets programme which discovers and develops new writing talent in the north.

Nóra Blascsók, a Hungarian poet based in Manchester, said: “I’m delighted to be selected as one of six New Northern Poets. To be paired up with a mentor and given the opportunity to perform at a prestigious literary festival is very exciting. I’m looking forward to being part of a fantastic group of local poets.”

Rachel Curzon, a York-based poet, said: “I’m immensely grateful to have been selected as a New Northern Poet this year; it's such a privilege to be given clear permission to really focus on my work, with the support of such a fabulous group of writers and mentors.”

Nigeen Dara, a British-Kurdish doctor and writer who was a finalist in the 2023 BBC Words First programme, said: “I’m thrilled to be selected as a New Northern Poet and excited to work with Word Up North and the University of Leeds Poetry Centre to create new work. I can’t wait to see where this role leads and what it inspires.”

Jamie Field, a Blackpool-based poet and winner of the inaugural Disabled Poets Prize, said: “As a proud Northerner and lover of poetry it is a huge honour to be a member of this year's cohort. I'm looking forward to an exciting few months.”

Vanessa Napolitano, a British/American poet who lives in Saltaire, said: “I feel so honoured to be selected, this is so meaningful for me. It relates to core parts of my identity as a poet and Northerner. I'm really looking forward to the mentoring aspect, and all that the role entails.”

Laura Strickland, a carer and poet, said: “When I found out I was one of the six selected poets everything went silent for a moment because I couldn’t believe it. I know that this opportunity will be a highlight of my poetry career and I can’t wait to meet the other New Northern Poets and mentors.”

This year’s mentors include Zaffar Kunial, whose work has been shortlisted for the T.S. Eliot Prize and Costa Poetry Award; Charlotte Eichler, whose collection Swimming Between Islands was shortlisted for the Seamus Heaney Centre First Collection Prize; Matt Howard, Manager of the University Leeds Poetry Centre and winner of Best First Collection at the 2020 Laurel Prize; Maia Elsner, winner of the Somerset Maugham Award; and John Whale, Director of the University of Leeds Centre for Poetry and Managing Editor of Stand magazine.

John Whale, Director of the University of Leeds Poetry Centre, said:

“This year’s Word Up North’s New Writers scheme has attracted impressive numbers of highly talented new poets from across the whole of the north of England: from all parts of Yorkshire, Merseyside, Greater Manchester, Lancashire, Cumbria and the North East. We look forward very much to working with the selected six across the summer and to being there when they perform at the festival in Ilkley in October.”

Becky Wholley, Programme Manager at Word Up North, said:

“We’re thrilled to announce this year’s cohort of New Northern Poets. Over the past two years, we have supported a group of incredible poets on the programme, and this year will be no exception. We look forward to working with these six rising poets and helping them to develop their craft and reach new audiences through showcases, workshops and a podcast.”

For further information and images, contact Suzanne Connelly (Communications & Digital Manager): Email: suzanne@wordupnorth.org.uk or Tel: 01943 601210.