My poem ‘The Landing Window’ has been selected for inclusion in the Community Arts Partnership’s Poetry in Motion Anthology, entitled “20:20 Vision”.
The anthologised poems are eligible for the Seamus Heaney Award for New Writing.
Damian Smyth, Head of Literature and Drama at the Arts Council of Northern Ireland, has stressed that, ‘The Seamus Heaney Awards, as offered by CAP, are the only awards in the world to carry his name.’
CAP has said it is, “humbled and committed to honouring the trust placed in us and the legacy of our foremost recognised poet, in offering these awards.”
CAP explains that the poems selected for the anthology are “presented to a panel which will include representatives from the Arts Council of Northern Ireland, the Heaney family, Community Arts Partnership and other members of the local literary community from across the region. The panel will then make the decision as to whom to award this accolade. This presents an exciting opportunity to all new and emerging poets living here, to be recognised for their craft and can be a springboard to the next stage on their literary career.”
The anthology will be launched on Sunday 15th March at the Heaney Homeplace, Bellaghy when the winner and shortlisted entries will be announced.
My poem is part of the work I’m doing for my project on Place and Displacement, supported by a SIAP Award from the Arts Council of Northern Ireland and The National Lottery.