This February, The Queer Poetry Collective (QPC) will take part in VERVE Poetry Festival, bringing its mission of elevating LGBTQ+ poets and sustaining queer literary spaces to one of the UK’s most celebrated poetry festivals. The collective will be hosting its first workshop as part of the festival programme and will also have a presence in the Atrium, where attendees can learn more about QPC, connect with its members, and support queer literary initiatives.
About The Queer Poetry Collective
The Queer Poetry Collective is an open and inclusive community of LGBTQ+ poets and poetry enthusiasts. Founded by poets Em Taylor and Rich Ware, the collective provides a space for emerging, established, and unheard queer voices to connect, create, and share their work.
Operating as a Stanza Group under The Poetry Society, QPC is supported by organisations including The Poetry Society and Common Press, alongside a network of queer and literary institutions.
Through workshops, performances, fundraisers, and events, QPC actively promotes the sustainability of queer literary spaces, independent presses, and community-driven poetry initiatives. The collective exists not only to amplify LGBTQ+ voices but also to foster an accessible, welcoming environment where queer writers can develop their craft and find community.

QPC at VERVE Poetry Festival
15th February 2025
As part of its growing presence in the poetry scene, The Queer Poetry Collective will be hosting a workshop at VERVE Poetry Festival, facilitated by its co-founders, Em Taylor and Rich Ware. Open to poets of all experience levels, the session will provide a space for reflection, experimentation, and creative expression, with writing prompts designed to spark new ideas and encourage meaningful engagement with poetry.
In addition to the workshop, QPC will be present at the Community Market Festival in the Atrium, where visitors can learn more about the collective’s work, engage with its members, and explore a curated selection of queer poetry books and resources.
Building a Sustainable Future for Queer Poetry
For The Queer Poetry Collective, participating in VERVE Poetry Festival is an opportunity to further its mission of ensuring that LGBTQ+ voices are not only heard but celebrated and sustained. By fostering spaces for queer poets to create and connect, QPC continues to champion the power of poetry as a means of storytelling, community-building, and artistic resistance.
Attendees can sign up for the workshop in the Atrium on the day or contact the collective via social media (@Emraylot & @warer) to secure a spot.
For further information, Emily Taylor can be contacted at emilyataylor94@gmail.com.
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