Barbican Young Poets is a poetry workshop programme for emerging writers aged 14-25, which gives you the chance to create, craft and perform poetry and spoken word as part of a community of young artists at the Barbican and Guildhall School of Music & Drama.
Led by internationally renowned poet and performer Jacob Sam-La Rose, explore diverse aspects of writing and performance, drawing on your passions, personal experience and the sights and sounds of the Barbican’s rich artistic programme to develop and showcase your work.
By the end of the year, you’ll have produced a portfolio of work, contributed to a published anthology, and had experience of performing on the Barbican’s stages and at other poetry venues. You can then apply again, or join the alumni group and develop your skills further, while supporting the next generation of Barbican Young Poets.
Workshops take place every fortnight at the Barbican and you will need to be available to attend every workshop.
The dates of the 2016-17 Barbican Young Poets programme are:
Wed 5 Oct, 6-8.30pm: Session 1
Wed 19 Oct, 6-8.30pm: Session 2
Wed Nov, 6-8.30pm: Session 3
Wed 16 Nov, 6-8.30pm: Session 4
Wed 30 Nov, 6-8.30pm: Session 5
Wed 14 Dec, 6-8.30pm: Session 6
Wed 11 Jan, 6-8.30pm: Session 7
Wed 25 Jan, 6-8.30pm: Session 8
Wed 8 Feb, 6-8.30pm: Session 9
Wed 22 Feb, 6-8.30pm: Session 10
Wed 8 Mar, 6-8.30pm: Session 11
Fri 24 Mar, 5.30-9.30pm: Showcase, Milton Court Theatre
Wed 9 Apr, 6-8.30pm: Plenary
How to Apply To apply, fill out the online application form here.This application form asks for some personal details, a short personal statement and a selection of written poetry (you can also upload links to you performing your poetry).
If the first stage of your application is successful, we will invite you to a recruitment evening at the Barbican, on either Tuesday 20 September or Wednesday 21 September 2016, 6–8pm. After these recruitment evenings, we will let you know if you have been invited to participate in the programme.
Applications close midday on Tuesday 6 September. If you have any questions or queries, please contact: creative.learning@barbican.org.uk
You can also sign up to Young Barbican to hear about other opportunities for young people at the Barbican, as well as access discounted tickets to amazing art and entertainment.
Ages 14-25 Free programme
Read the Barbican Young Poets’ Anthology
Click the links below to download a copy of the Barbican Young Poets Anthology created at the end of each programme.
Impossible Things About Optimism (2015-16) The Art of Forgetting Just Enough (2014-15) How to Witness the World with a Distance (2013-14) What We Thought Was True (2012-13) Eloquence in Times of Crisis (2011-12)