May 7 is of course Election Day. It also happens to be Poetry Day Ireland. So we are inviting you to come out and VOTE POETRY with the launch of David Braziel's new chapbook, 'I am Not a Poet (and other poems)', from Pen Points Press.

In 2014, David was the winner of pretty much every poetry slam held in the North, including slams at the Belfast Book Festival and Aspects Festival, amongst others. He also represented Ulster at the All Ireland Poetry Slam final 2014, and has been invited to perform his work at Lingo: A Spoken Word Festival, Stendhal Festival of Art and On Home Ground Festival. 

He is a founder member of the Lough Neagh Writers group, and was also recently long-listed for the Seamus Heaney Award for New Writing.

David will be reading in Cafe 31 (part of the Fenderesky Gallery), in North Street, Belfast. The event is free and starts at 7.30pm. Copies of the chapbook will be on sale for £5 each.


More details at: https://www.facebook.com/events/1444040272561096/

We're very happy to announce Emma McKervey​ as the winner of week two of our #SmartMovers Poetry Competition with Translink NI.

Emma's winning poem, 'Leaving the Holywood Halt for Bangor' will be published as a broadside by our publishing wing, Pen Points Press, and distributed by us for free.

Week Three of the competition is now open, with the theme of 'Sustainability'.

We all have an impact on the environment through our daily lives, from carbon use to traffic congestion to recycling, etc. Environmental sustainability looks at ways to understand and reduce the impact that we create, minimising potentially harmful effects through sound principles and best practice. 

Beyond this, what measures do we take to sustain ourselves? What is the source of our sustenance? How do we support and nurture each other?

Details on how are enter are at http://www.translink.co.uk/poetrycompetition/

Many thanks to everyone who came out to support our first open mic poetry night at The Alley Theatre last night in Strabane. We're thrilled with the turnout, and it was great to hear so many local voices contributing.

Extended thanks and praise to the host, Chris McLaughlin, who did a great job connecting and interacting with everyone, making sure that everything flowed successfully on the night.

Our open mics readers on the night were:
Marie Costello, Lynne Mary-Lou, Gertrude Flynn, Niall McGrath, David Braziel, Florence Forbes, Margaret Giblen, Caroline Hoey, Gemma Hill, Tommy Canning, Sheila Hill, Katie McLaughlin and Paul Butterfield Jnr. Well done everyone!

We're also delighted to confirm that Chris has arranged a series of further poetry night with the Alley, which he will be running over the next six months. more details on these events soon.

We're delighted to announced Peter Adair at the winner of our ‪#‎SmartMovers‬ Poetry Competition with Translink, with his poem 'Long Encounter'.

Peter's poem will be printed as a broadside by our publishing wing, Pen Points Press, and distributed for free by us.

Thank you to everyone who entered for week one's theme. Remember, you still have two chances to win! Week Two of the competition is now open, with the theme of 'Destinations'.

Tell us about your favourite destination, a special view point you pass on your daily commute, a place you love to visit with friends or alone or somewhere you’d love to visit.

Destinations can of course be non-physical: there could be a state we long to achieve, a desire goal or objective, a five-year-plan, a realised purpose for something. Overall, destinations involve journeys, from point A to point B, from one state of being to another.

Details on how to enter are at http://www.translink.co.uk/poetrycompetition/
Good luck!

Our new class at the Crescent Arts Centre starts tonight, and it's too not late to sign up if you're interested!

This semester, 'Poetry: Developing Your Craft' an eight week course, encouraging new writing while examining the qualities that go into crafting a poem. We'll have group writing exercises and feedback sessions, to analysis of poetry forms, examples and discussion. And of course, it will provide a friendly, open and supportive environment for you to discuss and explore your own work.

Details on how to sign up are below, hope to see you there.
http://crescentarts.ticketsolve.com/shows/873520310/events

IT'S COMPETITION TIME!

Poetry NI have teamed up again with Translink to run a series of themed weekly poetry competitions throughout the rest of April, National Poetry Writing Month.

As part of Translink's 'Smart Moves' campaign, we will choose three poets to have their winning poems printed as broadsides with our publishing wing, Pen Points Press.

The first theme, 'Smart Moves' is already open, and closed on Thurs 16th April. The next theme will then open on Fri 17rh.

Full details on each of the themes and how to enter is at http://www.translink.co.uk/poetrycompetition/

We look forward to reading your entries, good luck!