Andy Burnham announces
that search is underway for first Poet Laureate of the 21st century
DEPARTMENT FOR
CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT News Release (125/08) issued by COI News
Distribution Service. 25 November 2008
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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