National Poetry Centre announced in Leeds

A former Leeds church is to be reimagined to create a new ‘people’s palace for poetry’ spearheaded by the Poet laureate, Simon Armitage. Gagarin Studio have supported the steering group from the early days, to identify a suitable site and undertaken a feasibility for the repurposed Trinity St Davids on Woodhouse Lane, in Leeds. The brief to create an accessible, transformative building that celebrates all things poetry, has been a wonderful project to develop. The National Poetry Centre will welcome people from all ages and backgrounds and provide spaces and resources for people to meet, share, perform,read, borrow, create, dine and enjoy poetry  in all its forms.

As Simon says: ” poetry needs a home…an open-door venue in an accessible and relatable part of the country, where those who enter can pursue poetic interests either as browsers and consumers, or as experts and professionals. A National Poetry Centre would be a great showcase legacy for Leeds, for literature and for the Laureateship”

A campaign to raise funds and build a programme of national activities is in development.