The National Poet of Wales Nomination Process

We welcome nominations from

• Organisations, charities and groups
• Individuals
• Poets can also express an interest themselves

You can nominate a poet or express an interest yourself using this simple form.

Yes. The names of the nominated poets will not be made public, at any stage of the process.

Yes, individuals and organisations can nominate more than one poet if they so wish.

No – the selection panel will receive a list with each name appearing once only, irrespective of the number of nominations received.

No, we want to make the nomination process as easy and simple as possible.

Literature Wales will contact each poet that has been nominated to ask whether they want to be considered for the role of National Poet of Wales, at which point they will be invited to submit a short (no more than 200 words) expression of interest.

REMEMBER POETS, you can upload your details to the Writers of Wales Database to share your public contact details and help the process!

Yes. We will not however disclose by whom they have been nominated.

We’ll ask whether they want to be considered for the role of National Poet of Wales, at which point they will be invited to submit a short (no more than 200 words) expression of interest.

• 20 January to 14 March 2022 – Nomination process is open
• 14 to 28 March – Shortlisting process:
  • Every nomination will be checked by Literature Wales staff to ensure that each nominee is eligible
  • Two members of the Selection Panel and two members of Literature Wales staff will sift the nominations creating a draft shortlist
  • The Selection Panel will review the nominations and the draft shortlist before confirming a shortlist of poets who will be invited to apply for the role

• The week commencing 28 March – Inform shortlisted poets that they have been selected and invite them to apply for the role
• 28 March to 26 April – Shortlisted poets to submit a full application for the role (see below: What will the shortlisted poets be asked to submit?)
• The Selection Panel to review all applications. A further shortlist of poets will be selected for interview.
• 19 May to 1 June – Members of the Selection Panel and Literature Wales staff will interview a shortlist of poets
• 6 June – Successful candidate to be informed
• End of June – Public Announcement of the new National Poet of Wales 2022-2025

This is a once in a lifetime opportunity for an exceptional person and the qualities that characterise the National Poet of Wales reflect that. Here are the key features:

• The National Poet of Wales must be based in Wales.

• We are looking for a person with a strong personal vision who is passionate about the many ways that poetry can transform lives for the better. This is a fantastic opportunity and as National Poet of Wales, you will bring your own ideas about what the National Poet of Wales is, and what the project’s priorities should be for the next three years.

• The National Poet of Wales will be an effective and engaging communicator. The poet will be able to speak directly to individuals, communities, other figureheads, and with the press and media in Wales and beyond. The poet will work closely with the team at Literature Wales as well as our other partners and funders.

• The poet must have a positive attitude towards the Welsh language and other cultures and languages of Wales and be willing to see their work translated into either Welsh of English. The project includes funding for translation.

• The National Poet of Wales will need the ability to write about a range of themes. The National Poet receives numerous requests from various organisations, charities, and businesses to write specially-commissioned poems. See examples of Ifor ap Glyn’s commissions here.

• We ask the poet to respect Literature Wales’s values.

• To ensure the efficient and successful running of the project, the poet will be expected to be organised and be willing to communicate regularly with Literature Wales and any relevant commission partners.

• The poet will work a minimum of 14 days a year as the National Poet of Wales. If you have any concerns about your availability to fulfil the role (e.g. due to employment and / or caring duties), please contact us to discuss.

• Training and support will be available to the new National Poet of Wales, allowing them to gain skills and confidence in new areas of work.

For further information, please read our call for nominations.

No it isn’t. In the past poets who write in Welsh and English have been appointed to the role alternately; the current National Poet of Wales, Ifor ap Glyn writes in Welsh, and most of his commissioned poems have been translated into English. However, this doesn’t mean that the Selection Panel will necessarily favour a poet who mainly writes in English. Commissioned poems are translated to Welsh or English, and the National Poet will work with a creative translator to oversee this.

The Selection Panel will consist of a range of individuals with an interest in literature and cultural life in Wales and beyond.

Information about the Selection Panel will be published on our website in due course.

All nominations are checked by Literature Wales staff to ensure the poet is eligible for the role.

Two members of the Selection Panel and two members of Literature Wales staff will sift through the eligible applications together, and select a shortlist for the Panel to assess in order to invite poets to apply for the role.

The Panel will assess each complete shortlisted application separately, considering the application against the key features of the role.

The Panel will make a recommendation to Literature Wales and the Chief Executive will appoint the National Poet of Wales in June 2022.

1. A letter (maximum two pages) OR video up to 5 minutes in length explaining:

• • Your vision for your time as the National Poet of Wales. What you would like to focus on or achieve during your three years in post. You may want to think of one main theme to focus on your work, for example the climate emergency; health and well-being; or representation.
  • Examples of the type of projects you would like to develop.
  • Why you want the role.
  • Why you are a suitable candidate for the role.

2. Three poems you have written which demonstrates your suitability to be National Poet of Wales (written or video).

3. Your writer’s CV.

4. An Equality and Diversity Monitoring Form (available here).

A small number of Literature Wales staff will have access to your application. In line with our policy of identifying talent, and referring to other sources, we may contact you about opportunities relevant to your application, creative work and experience. To help Literature Wales comply with the Data Protection Act (GCPR), please complete the relevant section at the end of the application form, to let us know if you do not want Literature Wales to contact you about future opportunities.

• The core fee for the role is £5,600 per annum, plus expenses (equivalent to approximately 14 days work).
• The poet has the opportunity to put their own stamp on the role, nevertheless there are some core commitments and activity in the agreement. Each year, the poet will be required to:
  • Create four original poems
  • Take part in four official events
  • Deliver promotional and marketing activities including writing articles
  • Discuss and plan projects and activities with the team at Literature Wales
  • Administer and organise their schedule, keeping in regular contact with Literature Wales staff
  • Complete regular monitoring and evaluation activity.
• The commissioned poems of the new National Poet of Wales will be translated into either Welsh or English – depending on the main language of the National Poet’s work – and the poet will be required to collaborate with a creative translator.
• Proposals for further commissions are likely to be received, and invitations to participate in other national campaigns and projects led by Literature Wales. Any such additional work would be agreed and paid for separately.

• The next National Poet for Wales will take up his role from the end of June 2022 onwards.
• This is a three-year role, until summer 2025.
• Must be able to commit at least 14 working days a year to work as the National Poet of Wales; this is the minimum role but there are usually additional projects and commissions in any given If you have any concerns about your availability (e.g. due to employment and / or caring duties) to fulfil the role, please contact us to discuss.