Budding poets are invited to submit their entries to a poetry competition, with the chance of their work being displayed for thousands to read on a Tyne and Wear Metro station.
The competition, organised by Nexus, opens today, National Poetry Day, and closes on 17 October. This is the fourth year Nexus has run the competition, which is fast becoming a fixture of the North East and UK poetry scene.
The winner and three runners up will see their poem displayed on a large poster at Longbenton, a busy commuter station which is used by more than one million customers every year.
The prize also includes £100 Waterstones vouchers and a free membership to The Poetry Book Society for the winner and £50 Waterstones vouchers for the runners up.
All poems submitted will be judged by representatives from Nexus and The Poetry Book Society and published poet Jane Burn.
Alice Mullen, manager of the Poetry Book Society said: “The Poetry Book Society is delighted to partner with Nexus on the annual Metro Poetry Prize. We care deeply about sharing poetry with our local community and can’t wait to give a platform to regional talent at Longbenton Metro Station. The standard of the poems is always exceptional, and we’re so excited to read this year’s entries on the theme of “care”.
Poetry can offer hope, solace, joy and help us connect with those around us – so we’d strongly encourage everyone who cares about words, and the world, to get involved.”
Poems can be submitted via the Nexus website www.nexus.org.uk/poetry and should be on the theme of ‘Care.’
Longbenton Metro station has become a hub for poetry and artworks in recent years.
Four poems reflecting on the pandemic, by professional poets, were displayed at the station in July 2021. They were replaced by poems on the theme of ‘Winter’ in 2021, ‘Home’ in 2022, and ‘Journeys’ in 2023, all written by previous competition winners.
The station currently displays poems written by local NHS staff as part of a creative writing project undertaken by Newcastle Hospitals Trust.
David Turton, Marketing Services Manager at Nexus, said: “We’re delighted to use Longbenton Metro station once more to display poetry. We are always overwhelmed with the response which seems to increase in volume and quality each year, and it’s a real celebration of Metro’s long association with the arts.”
“The competition is open to all ages and all abilities and we’re looking forward to sharing your poems with our customers.”
For full details, terms and conditions and to submit entries go to www.nexus.org.uk/poetry