Image: Hayley Madden
We are delighted to announce the launch of the Charles Causley International Poetry Competition with Head Judge Vahni Capildeo!
Our International Poetry Competition is a major event of our yearly calendar. This year, Trinidadian Scottish writer Vahni Capildeo (they/them) will be our Head Judge.
A bit about Vahni:
Vahni moved to the UK in 1991 to read English language and literature at Christ Church college at the University of Oxford and has published eight books and eight pamphlets so far in their career. Their interests include plurilingualism, traditional masquerade, and multidisciplinary collaboration. They have held teaching and research positions at a number of universities across the UK, including Cambridge, Glasgow, Leeds, Sheffield, Kingston-upon-Thames, and Greenwich. They have also volunteered at Oxfam Head Office and the Oxford Sexual Abuse and Rape Crisis Centre.
Vahni will be selecting our winning entries for this year’s competition and will announce the winning writers in April 2022.
Our International Poetry submission guidelines:
- Poems have a maximum limit of 40 lines but no minimum.
- The title is not included in the line count, nor are the lines between stanzas. Titles, epigraphs and dedications are also not counted as lines.
- The poem/s may be on any subject.
We are committed to reducing our carbon footprint and finding ways of making our activities more sustainable, so we urge those entering our competition to do so online through the links on our dedicated competition page. If you are unable to enter online, please see our rules of entry to find out how to enter by post.
Please make sure that you read the Rules of Entry carefully before entering.
The closing date for the competition is midnight on Monday 28th February 2022 and the winners will be announced in April 2022.
The 1st prize winner will receive £2,000 plus a one week writing residency at Cyprus Well, Charles Causley’s former home in Launceston. The 2nd prize winner will receive £250 and the third prize winner will receive £100. Five Highly Commended poets whose work shows particular promise will each receive £30.
For more information, and details of how to enter head over to the competition section of our website.
