Market town to select new poet laureate

Outgoing Stamford laureate Caroline Avnit will be one of the judges

A new poet laureate is set to be chosen for a Lincolnshire market town as 10 contenders prepare to compete for the title this week.

The finalists will give special readings as part of the regular monthly Pint of Poetry evening, which will take place in the Gallery Bar, at Stamford Arts Centre, from 19:30 BST on Wednesday.

Stamford is known for its poetry scene and is also home to the famous Poetry Stone at St Michael's churchyard, where the public can step up to recite.

South Kesteven District Council arts programme officer Karen Burrows said the judging panel, which also includes outgoing Stamford laureate Caroline Avnit, are looking forward to choosing her successor.

Ms Burrows said: "This will be a live reading from all 10 finalists, who were chosen from a much wider field.

"It will be nerve-wracking for them but the reward will be the honour of taking on this highly-regarded post, which involves attending civic events, taking on formal commissions and of course performing at local and regional events."

People can also join in with performers at the regular Pint of Poetry evenings, which take place on the last Wednesday of every month at 21:30, at The Gallery, in Stamford Arts Centre.

Other upcoming poetry nights include Lemn Sissay, the BAFTA-nominated, award-winning writer and broadcaster, on Thursday 19 June, and also a walking tour of Stamford, with 90 minutes of history and verse for Roads, Rhymes and Past Times on Saturday 5 July.

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