Morecambe Poetry Festival 2023

The environment

We studied and reflected on the Morecambe environment with a wordwalk and 'zine. Environmental issues were at the forefront of the festival book we published, with the themes, nature/sustainability/biodiversity

The local economy

The audiences were up 30% overall on last years festival, and more people saw more grassroots poets

Volunteering, jobs & education

Some of our volunteers went on to volunteer for the film festival. We had the role of volunteer co-ordinator this year, and now we have an events co-ordinator. We are speaking to the organisations we said we would, and now need to progress those conversations

Arts, culture & heritage

We are making strides in this area if not achieving all ambitions, moving seriously in the right direction, we've also the legacy of poetry workshops with the wordsworth foundation happening in the west end and a regular poetry night

Activity, health and leisure

This is an anonimised online exchange which anecdotally says more about the positivity of the ripple effect than i ever could - "To celebrate NATIONAL POETRY DAY today. I never thought I could do anything like this as I failed GCSE English and was always told I was no good. I'm 50 this month and this is the first thing I have ever written - NEVER GIVE UP 😁 Inspired by Morecambe Poetry Festival, I wrote this from the heart about my project and how I see society." "You know what I've known you for a long time and been lucky enough to be in a close circle of friends with you Being crap at English myself I never really appreciated your struggle but my son is also dyslexic, so you should know that you are an inspiration for many " We had many first timers, people getting up for the first time, writing for the first time, being published for the first time. It was a virtuous circle.