Stoke-on-Trent’s centenary celebrations are continuing with the launch of a search for two new Poet Laureates.
Stoke-on-Trent City Council has opened a competition to select the next Poet Laureate and, for the first time, a Young Poet Laureate. Both will contribute to the city’s 100th anniversary year by highlighting its creativity and culture.
The successful candidates will follow Nick Degg, who was named Centenary Poet Laureate in October 2024. He will continue to write poems throughout 2025, capturing the city’s pride, history and character.
The Lord Mayor of Stoke-on-Trent, Councillor Lyn Sharpe, said: “Our centenary year is an opportunity to celebrate the part literature has played in our city’s history and continues to play into the future.
“Nick Degg is showing us the power of poetry. He’s helping us remember this centenary year through his new poems that will be enjoyed for years to come.
“We created the new junior role to give a young poet the chance to learn the ropes from Nick. It’s a fantastic springboard for a young poet to have, to learn from a much-loved and incredibly talented poet and who knows, maybe become our city’s Laureate one day.”
Nick Degg said: “It’s great to know that the council and its libraries are supporting and promoting the Poet Laureateship. It’s vital for aspiring poets to know that they will be given a platform to explore way beyond their normal circles.
“To have organisations, arts foundations and the like inviting you to be involved in projects and commissions is a wonderful way of expanding not just your writing skills, but to open doors you didn’t even know were there.
“Poetry is a magical art form, and the more people we can reach with our passion and enthusiasm can only be good for its future as a vibrant and important strand of literature.”
The competition is open to Stoke-on-Trent residents. Applicants for the Poet Laureate role must be over 18, while the Young Poet Laureate role is open to those aged 14 to 18. Applications are open until Saturday, 16 August.
Judging will take place on 20 September, with the winners announced on Thursday, 2 October, coinciding with National Poetry Day. The Young Poet Laureate role begins on 1 November, while the Poet Laureate will take up the position in May 2026.
For more information and to apply, visit www.stoke.gov.uk/poetlaureate.
