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Andy Burnham announces that search is underway for first Poet Laureate of the 21st century
The time has come to begin the search to find a new poet Laureate, the first for the 21st century. Culture Secretary Andy Burnham today announced that preparations for the appointment are underway, with the Department for Culture, Media and Sport consulting widely in the poetry sector.
The present Laureate, Professor Andrew Motion, was appointed by HM The Queen in May 1999. He became the first in history to be appointed for a fixed ten-year term. His tenure comes to an end next year and DCMS is seeking advice from academics, key poetry organisations and others in the poetry sector from the UK and Commonwealth.
Andy Burnham said:
"I have nothing but praise for the way Andrew Motion has interpreted the role - not only has he reflected the mood of the nation by writing poems in response to public events, but his enthusiasm in championing poetry has been an inspiration. When he was appointed, he said that he would use his tenure to obtain a higher profile for poetry in education and in society more generally. His commitment to realising that aim has been admirable.
"The Laureateship itself is such a long and fascinating tradition, and what's wonderful about it, if you look at past Laureates, is that they have all approached the role in distinct ways. So it really is exciting to be looking to the future and to appoint a successor."
Since his appointment, Andrew Motion has approached the Laureateship in the widest possible sense, writing poems to address public events as well as Royal occasions, including the 100th birthday and death of Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother, The Queen's Golden Jubilee in 2002 and The Queen's 80th birthday in 2006. He has also invested a great deal of time and energy in educational advocacy work, making frequent visits to schools and colleges, and also co-founding the Poetry Archive, an online collection of poets reading their work.
Andrew Motion said:
"My time as Poet Laureate has been fulfilling, challenging, rewarding, testing and fascinatingly full of opportunities to promote, protect and act as an ambassador for poetry.
"I'm especially glad to have had the chance to found the Poetry Archive with Richard Carrington. I warmly welcome the discussion that will now follow about the future of the role, and about poetry itself."
The honorary Royal post came into existence in 1668 when King Charles II gave John Dryden the official title. Past Laureates have included Dryden, Wordsworth, Tennyson, Betjeman and Hughes. The role has changed over time - originally the office involved writing court odes to mark occasions such as the Sovereign's birthday, but today the position is honorary.
Following the death of Ted Hughes, Motion's predecessor, it was decided that the Laureateship should not remain a lifetime appointment, but should be a fixed ten-year term to give more poets the opportunity to serve.
Notes to Editors
1. The honorary Royal post of Poet Laureate is awarded to a poet whose work is of national significance. The appointment is made by The Queen, who acts on the advice of Ministers.
2. No.10, Cabinet Office, and DCMS are working with the Royal Household to prepare for the appointment of Andrew Motion's successor. DCMS is managing the consultation process and is currently consulting over 40 academics, key poetry and literary organisations and others in the sector, from across the UK and Commonwealth. Once this process is complete, DCMS will put the recommendations to No.10 and the Prime Minister will submit names for approval by The Queen.
3. The public is welcome to write to the DCMS with their thoughts on the future of the Poet Laureate's role or with suggestions for candidates for the Laureateship. There will not, however, be any kind of public vote to determine the next holder of the post.
4. The next Poet Laureate will be appointed for a fixed ten-year term. The appointment will be announced shortly before Andrew Motion stands down next year.
5. The Poet Laureate's original salary was £200 per year plus a butt of canary (a type of wine). John Betjeman had the tradition revived in 1972, and today's Poet Laureate continues to receive a barrel of sherry. These days the DCMS supports the Laureateship by funding the annual honorarium (currently approximately £5,750), and DCSF supports Andrew Motion's extensive work in schools and colleges contributing approximately £19,000 per year.
6. Andrew Motion has been Poet Laureate since 1999. He was previously a member of Arts Council England and Chair of the ACE Literature Panel, and is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature. Born in London and educated at Oxford University, Motion became a lecturer at Hull University (1976-1981), publishing his first collection of poetry in 1977. Since then, he has published several other volumes of poetry and biography, for which he has received the Somerset Maugham Award, the Dylan Thomas Prize and the Whitbread Prize for Biography. He was Professor of Creative Writing at the University of East Anglia from 1995-2003, when he was appointed Professor of Creative Writing at Royal Holloway College, University of London. He is a member of the Council of the ASA and a co-founder and co-director of the Poetry Archive, an online collection of historic and contemporary poets reading their own work. He was recently appointed as the new Chair of the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council (MLA).
7. The Poetry Archive is an online collection of recordings of poets reading their work which Andrew Motion set up with recording producer Richard Carrington. It exists to make poetry accessible and enjoyable to a wide audience and includes a Children's Poetry Archive and special sections for both students and teachers. The Poetry Archive is supported by Arts Council England, Arts Council of Northern Ireland, DCSF, DCMS, HLF and NESTA amongst other benefactors.
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