The Southbank Centre is the largest arts centre in the UK, and one of the nation's top visitor attractions. We seek out the world’s most exciting artists, from household names to fresh new talent, and give them space to showcase their best work. Our creative learning and participation activities help everyone express their creativity and explore their potential.
We are the home of literature and spoken word events in the UK, and our programme is brimming with today’s bestselling authors, award-winning poetry and spoken word. We house the National Poetry Library, the world’s largest public collection of modern poetry and we are committed to finding and supporting the next generation of emerging talent.
About the programme
The New Poets Collective programme is centred around the National Poetry Library. It helps a group of up to 15 poets hone their skills and expand their knowledge and confidence.
The New Poets Collective is a free programme. We especially welcome applications from under-represented communities: Black, Asian and Ethnically Diverse poets, LGBTQI+ poets, disabled or neurodiverse poets, and poets from lower socio-economic backgrounds. Successful applicants receive a bursary of £500 towards travel, food and caring responsibilities.
The New Poets Collective begins at the London Literature Festival in October. Over the course of a year, the group develops creatively while drawing on and contributing to the rich and varied artistic life of the Southbank Centre.
The collective is able to explore and be inspired by all the art forms and cross-arts events held at the Royal Festival Hall, the Queen Elizabeth Hall and the Hayward Gallery. The cohort also has the chance to respond to the Southbank Centre’s own unique archive and history.
Lead tutors Vanessa Kisuule and Will Harris and special guest poets lead monthly in-person sessions for the collective. These sessions are designed to help the group’s members develop as versatile creative artists with skills and confidence across a range of genres, from page poetry to performative poetry and spoken word.
The programme culminates with presentations at the London Literature Festival 2025 and a zine.It also includes industry insight sessions designed to provide tools for this group of emerging poets to build their writing careers in the years ahead.