National Poetry Centre mooted for Leeds

A National Poetry Centre could be established in Leeds to boost the cultural offer of the city.

It’s been proposed by Yorkshire-born poet Simon Armitage who is the current Poet Laureate and professor of poetry at the University of Leeds.

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.

The centre will be a collaboration led by Leeds City Council, Leeds 2023, the University of Leeds and other partners.

Mr Armitage said he wants the centre to ‘bring poetry in line’ with other art forms such as theatre and art.

He said: ‘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 etc.

‘In my view, the centre needs to be outside London and Leeds is an ideal location: accessible, central, dynamic, contemporary, future-minded, people-oriented, community-aware, committed to cultural regeneration, and building momentum towards 2023.’

Cllr Judith Blake, Leader of Leeds City Council, added: ‘We are so honoured that Simon has chosen to develop his vision for a national poetry centre in Leeds. We are committed to strengthening the cultural life of our city because we know what incredible social and economic impact it can bring.

‘The serious business of finding the right site, raising the funds and creating something quite extraordinary that can welcome all our communities can now begin.’

The project will now develop through an ongoing partnership between Simon Armitage, Leeds City Council, Leeds 2023 and the University of Leeds to identify a site and secure funding.

In addition to the plans announced today, Armitage has also been appointed as the first patron of Leeds 2023, a year-long multi-million-pound programme of arts and culture in the city.