Posted on Wednesday 16th November 2011
First prize £1000
Five runner-up prizes of £50
The competition is open to anyone, of any age, wherever they live. Entries must be in English. There is an entry fee of £4.00 for the first poem submitted, and £3.00 per poem for any further poems.
In Olympic Year 2012 we are celebrating the inspiration of Ancient Greece, and the role of Shugborough Hall, near Stafford, in the 18th century Greek Revival. We are offering an extra prize of £100 for the best poem with either of these titles - “Arcadia” or “Olympics”.
The competition will be judged by Michael Hulse, a prize winning poet and university lecturer.
The Stafford Poetry Competition is an open competition organised by Staffordshire Libraries and supported by Stafford District Arts Council.
RULES
1) Poems should be no more than 40 lines. Entries must be the original work of the entrant and must be previously unpublished in any form (print, electronic or other media).
2) All entries must be received no later than 28th February 2012.
3) Entries must be in English, typed in a plain font with no illustrations or decoration, on plain white A4 paper. The author’s name or address must not appear on the poem itself but on a cover sheet.
4) Copyright in all entries is retained by the writer. By entering the competition the authors give permission to Staffordshire Libraries and Stafford District Arts Council to reproduce their work, with the author’s name, in displays, promotional material and on their web pages.
5) The competition organisers will not publish any details of addresses of entrants but may refer to their town or county of origin.
6) The judges’ decision is final. We hope to announce the winners on May 1st.
7) The organisers will acknowledge receipt of entries only if entrants include a stamped addressed envelope.
8) Winners will be notified by the organisers and details of winners will be published in the local press and on www.staffordshire.gov.uk|
9) Other entrants will not be notified directly and poems will not be returned.
10) Entry to the competition is regarded as acceptance of all of the above rules.
11) Entries should be posted to: Stafford Poetry Competition, Shire Hall Library, Market Street, Stafford ST16 2LQ.
They must be accompanied by
a) a cover sheet giving the name and address of the entrant and the title(s) of the poem(s) entered, and
b) a cheque payable to “Staffordshire County Council” for £4.00 (plus £3.00 each for any extra poems) or postal order.