National Poetry Centre in Leeds gets £5m funding boost

Simon Armitage is behind West Yorkshire's National Poetry Centre

Plans for the UK's first national poetry headquarters in West Yorkshire have been given a boost by £5m funding from the government.

The National Poetry Centre, which was created by Poet Laureate Simon Armitage, is being built at the Trinity St David's site in Leeds.

The plans will give people from all cultures and backgrounds a space to share and learn more about poetry.

Mr Armitage said he was "thrilled" by the funding announcement in the Budget.

He said: "My highest ambition when appointed Poet Laureate was to create a national home for poetry in my native West Yorkshire.

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"The award of £5m from the Department of Levelling Up is a huge step forward in the building of the National Poetry Centre in Leeds.

"I'm thrilled that so many people see the good and the sense in this idea, and excited to be confidently planning the next stage of development."

The location of the centre is significant to Mr Armitage who is from Huddersfield and also Professor of Poetry at the University of Leeds.

The centre is expected to open at the end of 2027 once work is complete at the disused Trinity St David's building on Woodhouse Lane, which is known by many in Leeds as the former Halo nightclub.

National Poetry chair Ruth Pitt said the art form was an important part of our national identity

The government funding will help it become the country's first national headquarters for poetry and a space for events, study areas, exhibitions, workshops, open-mic nights, and a library. and archives.

The project has been in the works for four years and has seen support from The National Poetry Centre's partners Arts Council England, the University of Leeds, Leeds City Council and West Yorkshire Combined Authority.

National Poetry chair Ruth Pitt said the group "could not be happier".

"We met the Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove recently and were struck by his understanding of the value of poetry to inspire people and provide a platform for self-expression, irrespective of their educational background or experiences," she said.

"Our country's poetry heritage goes back thousands of years and has produced some of the world's most distinguished poets.

"As a cultural art form it's an important part of our national identity - and the National Poetry Centre will give poetry its very own dedicated national cultural centre at last."