Call for Nominations:

The National Poet of Wales

The National Poet of Wales project was established by Literature Wales in 2005. Our vision is a Wales where literature empowers, improves, and brightens lives. The role of the National Poet of Wales is a key part of this vision.  

The current National Poet of Wales is Ifor ap Glyn, whose term comes to an end in May 2022. During his time as National Poet of Wales, Ifor has been a cultural ambassador for Wales and its literature and has travelled the world – both literally and figuratively. His poetry has appeared on the public transportation network of Brussels and projected on the side of Big Ben. He has been commissioned to write poems and prose to mark several occasions over the past few years, including: 50 years since the Aberfan tragedy; the UNESCO Year of Indigenous Languages 2019; 20 years of devolution in Wales; not to mention many social appeals, notable birthdays and the highlights of Welsh football. 

Outlined below is the process for appointing a new National Poet of Wales, and how you can be part of it. More information can be found in the Frequently Asked Questions page.  

Call for Nominations 

From 20 January to 14 March 2022 Literature Wales will receive nominations for a talented Welsh poet to take on this prestigious role. 

There are two ways to nominate. You can either nominate yourself for the role, or you can nominate somebody else. You can do this as an individual, or on behalf of an organisation, charity, or other business you work for. Please use this simple form. Each nomination will be considered by a selection panel, who will create a shortlist of poets who will then be invited to apply for the role. 

Information about the Role of National Poet of Wales 

Representing the diverse cultures and languages of Wales at home and abroad, the National Poet of Wales will take poetry to new audiences and encourage others to use their creative voice to inspire positive change. They will be an ambassador for the people of Wales, advocating for the right to be creative and spread the message that literature belongs to everyone.  

In addition, they will give a poetic platform to some of the most important issues of our time, including the climate emergency, representation, and health and well-being, including mental health. 

The work of the National Poet of Wales is varied. This includes receiving commissions to write poems for different themes and occasions; taking part in events and festivals in Wales and abroad; taking a leading role in literary projects and campaigns; running workshops and meeting a wide variety of people at official events. On one day, the National Poet might be performing at an event with the First Minister, and the next day contributing to a multi-media project on climate change. They might be running a workshop with a community group, or creating video-poems for social media. 

Each National Poet makes the role their own and Literature Wales staff will discuss ideas with the new poet and help to devise, develop and organise a programme of exciting projects Although the poet will organise their own timetable, we’re here to support the person in the role to make the most of the opportunity. 

This appointment is for three years. The next National Poet for Wales will start at the end of June 2022, until the summer of 2025. The fee for the role is £5,600 per year, plus expenses (equivalent to approximately 14 days’ work). 

What we are looking for in the next National Poet of Wales: 

Literature Wales believes that writers of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities should have opportunities to develop their literary potential. For The National Poet of Wales, we will be looking at the strength of a person’s potential for the role, rather than experience. What will be important is that the poet is committed to using their unique voice to engage and inspire people with poetry and the benefits of literature, and to share Wales and its literature with the world. The person appointed will be Wales-based and share our vision of a Wales that empowers, improves, and brightens lives through literature. 

• 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 for a chat. 

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

Literature Wales has benefited from being part of Weston Jerwood Creative Bursaries, which support arts organisations to broaden their approach to the recruitment and development of diverse talent. We are committed to welcoming applicants from a wide range of backgrounds, which includes assessing applications based on potential strengths. If you would like to put your name forward for this role but are unsure whether you have sufficient experience, please contact us for an informal chat. 

We operate an anti-racism culture and develop our Safeguarding and Human Resources policies to include good practice processes when working with victims of discrimination trauma, and work towards tackling micro attacks in the workplace. We are dedicated to meeting entry requirements – let us know what you need. 

The Appointment Process 

1. Please fill this simple form to nominate a poet or to express your own interest in the role.

 The closing date for nominations is 5.00pm, 14 March 2022. 

 You can either nominate yourself for the role, or you can nominate somebody else. You can do this as an individual, or on behalf of an organisation, charity, group, or other business you work for. 

2. A selection panel will look at each nomination and draw up a shortlist of poets. Shortlisted poets will be invited to apply for the role. For more information about this stage of the application process see the Frequently Asked Questions. 

3. We will contact shortlisted poets during the week beginning 28 March 2022 to invite them to submit a more detailed application (closing date 26 April). 

 4. We will then draw up a final shortlist and invite the candidates to discuss their applications with us in more detail. These interviews will be held via Zoom from 19 May – 1 June 2022.