Professor Simon Armitage reveals plans for National Poetry Centre in Leeds
A major partnership between Leeds and the Poet Laureate will bring lasting benefit to the people of the city region and poetry lovers across the world.
The creation of the National Poetry Centre is Simon Armitage’s response to the opportunities offered by his royal appointment as Poet Laureate to develop initiatives and projects that enhance education, foster new talent and promote literature and literacy.
The intention is to provide a welcoming public space that offers an extensive poetry collection with research facilities, rehearsal and performance spaces, a friendly café, opportunities for writers to exchange ideas, event spaces for literary events and prizes and hopefully accommodation for visiting writers from across the UK and all over the world.
One very ambitious goal I have set myself over the forthcoming decade of my tenure is to develop a National Poetry Centre, to bring poetry in line with other national art forms that have their own headquarters and venues, such as the National Theatre and the National Gallery.
The project will be a major collaboration led by Leeds City Council, Leeds 2023, the University of Leeds and other important partners.
