Poetry reading by the Birmingham Poets Laureate

In 2016 Birmingham celebrates 20 years since the appointment of its first Poet Laureate. Birmingham was the first city in the UK to appoint a Poet Laureate, as so often leading the way in cultural life.

In this event, Vice Chancellor Professor Sir David Eastwood, will introduce the two current Birmingham Poets Laureate. Refreshments will follow the free reading. Please register online if you wish to attend.

All are welcome to attend

Adrian Blackledge, who is also Professor of Bilingualism in the School of Education, was appointed Birmingham Poet Laureate in 2014. He is a winner of the Eric Gregory Award for poetry, a distinction he shares with Seamus Heaney, Simon Armitage, and Carol Ann Duffy, among others. His poems have been published in a wide range of journals, and in 2016 his new volume of poems, Inkling, was published. 

Serena Arthur was appointed Birmingham Young Poet Laureate in 2014. Serena is 18 years old, and balances A-level studies with poetry performances and talks across the city to inspire and encourage others to write and enjoy poetry. In October 2015 Serena performed with Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Rita Dove at the Birmingham Literature Festival. Serena currently holds offers of places for both the English Literature and the English and Creative Writing degree programmes here at University of Birmingham, so we hope that we will see much more of her in the years to come.