International poets, poetry experts, and poetry institutions to gather for major Poetry@Leeds conference
The conference will serve as a vital platform for established figures and the next generation of poets scholars, and leaders in the cultural sector
The University of Leeds will host Poetry’s Environments this June, a three-day international conference bringing together poets, publishers, institutions, and scholars to explore the diverse landscapes of contemporary poetry and the significant role the natural environment plays in poetry.
Taking place from 9–11 June and organised by Poetry@Leeds (formerly the Poetry Centre) in collaboration with a prestigious network of partners – including the National Poetry Centre, Leeds Literature Festival, and the Poetry Book Society – the conference will be held across the University campus and the University’s state-of-the-art city centre venue, Cloth Hall Court. It will feature a mix of academic inquiry, high-profile public performances, and reflections from institutions and organisations devoted to poetry.
Kimberly Campanello, Director of Poetry@Leeds and Professor of Poetry at the School of English, said:
"‘Poetry’s Environments’ marks a significant moment for Poetry@Leeds as we welcome a truly global community of writers and thinkers to the University. By moving between our historic campus and the heart of the city at Cloth Hall Court, we are physically enacting the conference's theme, exploring how poetry interacts with, and is shaped by, the environments it inhabits. Whether it is through our public readings with the Poet Laureate or the archival treasures of our Cultural Collections, this event showcases Leeds as a world-leading centre for poetic research and practice."
The conference will serve as a vital platform for established figures and the next generation of poets scholars, and leaders in the cultural sector. Word Up North’s New Northern Poets will attend as part of a professional development initiative, joining delegates from across the globe to discuss the "environments" of poetry across time periods, languages and cultures. Contributions from delegates include papers and performances exploring poetry in heritage environments, poetry pedagogy in communities, local poetry ecosystems, and perspectives on poetry from diverse cultural contexts that takes as a central theme the natural environment and the human activities that threaten it.
The event also welcomes industry leaders including Banshee Press, Guillemot Press, Hazel Press, and Peepal Tree Press, alongside representatives from Modern Poetry in Translation, The Poetry School, and The Conversation.
Several flagship events are open to the public, providing a rare opportunity to engage with the University’s archives and celebrated poets:
- Poetry Manuscripts Open House (9 June): Hosted by Cultural Collections, this public session offers a behind-the-scenes look at significant literary archives.
- Caster Cultural Fellow Reading (9 June, 6 pm): A celebration of the Caster Cultural Fellows in Poetry at the Clothworkers Centenary Hall, held in partnership with Leeds Literature Festival.
- Simon Armitage in Conversation (10 June, 6 pm): Poet Laureate Professor Simon Armitage will lead a reading and discussion at the Rupert Beckett Lecture Theatre, presented in partnership with the National Poetry Centre.
The full programme and further details on the conference's themes can be found on the dedicated Poetry’s Environments website.
