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Writing ‘Intimate Things’ - Focus on Film - Between Erasure and Imagination - The House of Poetry - Turning Inwards to Write Outwards - Notes from Stone - Poeticising the Self - The Burning Haibun - The Music of Memory - The Meaning of Form. Anthony Vahni Capildeo, Hannah Copley, Alexandra Corrin-Tachibana, Ella Duffy, Ian Duhig, Rachel Long, Kim Moore, Daljit Nagra, Richard Scott, Jennifer Wong, Jane Yeh & VERVE Poetry Press. Further info below VERVE POETRY ONLINE POETRY WORKSHOPS Autumn Series Trio of Workshops £54.34 Programme of VERVE POETRY WORKSHOPS. online zoom events. Half Dozen Workshops £98.22 Kim Moore Workshop - The House of Poetry During this workshop we will be exploring the different ways that we can write about the house – both as a literal and a psychological space. 1 September 2026 at 19:00:00 SOLD OUT Ella Duffy Workshop - Notes from Stone In this workshop, we will read and write poems that focus on and derive ideas from stone. We will look to contemporary poets who engage with the more-than-human, examining how they translate mineral stillness into poetry. 22 September 2026 at 19:00:00 JOIN US Richard Scott Workshop - The Burning Haibun and a Little Bit of Tarot If an American sonnet might be, in the words of Terrance Hayes, 'a little room in a house set aflame' then how might we set fire to and queer existing poetic forms in the hunt to find our own? 20 October 2026 at 12:00:00 JOIN US Jane Yeh Workshop - Focus on Film We’ll take inspiration from film techniques like splicing, editing, flashback, and montage, as well as images or characters from selected movies or music videos. 10 November 2026 at 19:00:00 JOIN US Hannah Copley Workshop - Turning inwards to write outwards: It's easy to claim that all poetry is, in some way or another, about itself, but what does it mean to consciously write an Ars Poetica poem or even create a poetic manifesto? 8 September 2026 at 19:00:00 SOLD OUT Daljit Nagra Workshop - Poeticising the Self Daljit will explore ways we can present our own lives in relation to the environment in which we grew up in and live in. 6 October 2026 at 19:00:00 JOIN US Anthony Vahni Capildeo Workshop - The Music of Memory: Taking inspiration from the poetic forms of Romantic and Victorian sentimental souvenirs and 20th century French café music, and paying attention to the sounds of nature and our lived environments, we shall create 'album leaves' of our own. 27 October 2026 at 19:00:00 JOIN US Jennifer Wong Workshop - Between erasure and imagination To erase is political. In the making and interpretation of erasure poems, we make purposeful yet spontaneous choices in the way we handle a meaningful found text or fragment or archive material. 17 November 2026 at 19:00:00 JOIN US Ian Duhig Workshop - The Poem Repair Shop In this repairative virtual one-time poem workshopping group, workshop attendees are invited to send Ian a poem that they are stuck with — in any style or form. 15 September 2026 at 19:00:00 SOLD OUT Rachel Long Workshop - Narrative Poetry: Portals, Time Travel and How to Slant and Disrupt Narrative. 13 October 2026 at 12:00:00 JOIN US Alexandra Corrin-Tachibana Workshop - Skinship: In the broadest sense of the word. How might zuihitsu, haibun and tanka be a vehicle for voicing intimate matters? 3 November 2026 at 19:00:00 JOIN US VERVE Poetry Press Workshop - The Meaning of Form We talk a lot about how poetic form can be used to have an impact on rhythm, scantion and pace in poetry. 24 November 2026 at 19:00:00 JOIN US ONLINE POETRY WRITING WORKSHOPS EVENTS by VERVE POETRY AUTUMN - WINTER 2026 Our autumn zoom workshop series (Sep - Nov 2026, Tuesdays 7-9pm) ... In alphabetical order: Anthony Vahni Capildeo, Hannah Copley, Alexandra Corrin-Tachibana, Ella Duffy, Ian Duhig, Rachel Long, Kim Moore, Daljit Nagra, Richard Scott, Jennifer Wong, Jane Yeh & VERVE Poetry Press. Workshops are available to book separately, or in discounted bundles of three, six or eleven workshops. The prices are as follows: Single Workshop: £24.50 / £18.50 Trio of Workshops: £64.00 / £49.50 Half Dozen Workshops: £120.00 / £90.00 Eleven Workshops: £200.00 / £150.00 NB These prices do not include eventbrite charges which will be added at checkout. Full Programme of Online Poetry Workshops

Join us for a full day of poetry at Ledbury Poetry Festival Sunday 28th June 2026! Five unmissable events: VERVE Open Door open mic (11.30am), Pamphlet Hour with AV Bridgwood, Ilisha Thiru Purcell & Zain Rishi (1.30pm), Elle Dillon-Reams' visceral solo show mashup (3pm), our first-ever Queer headline event with Leo Boix, Keith Jarrett & Peter Scalpello hosted by Joelle Taylor (4.30pm), and the riotous Dice Slam (6.30pm). Tickets from £6–£10. See you there! BOOK YOUR TICKET VIEW PROGRAMME A note from our founder, Stuart Bartholomew. We may be down but we’re most definitely not out. Having to cancel our annual Birmingham city centre poetry festival for the first time since 2017 due to funding issues has been painful and difficult. But the support of our friends and supporters has been both heart-warming and energising. None more so than from Amy and the team at Ledbury who have saved our year by offering us a day at their brilliant festival! We are grateful beyond words. With one eye on the marginalised among us and another on the unique timbre of our bustling and cacophonous home city, we dearly hope you will enjoy what we have to offer. We can’t wait to welcome you! VIEW THE FULL LEDBURY PROGRAMME: ledburypoetry.org.uk/home/whats-on/ VIEW PROGRAMME Ledbury Poetry Festival, Burgage Hall, Ledbury. Herefordshire, HR8 1DS. Sunday 28th June 2026. EVENT PROGRAMME. OPEN DOOR OPEN MIC. 11.30 - 1pm. FOR FOUR YEARS VERVE Poetry Festival have been holding monthly open mic nights in The Jewellery Quarter which provide a platform for both fledgling and dab hand poets to perform their work in a supportive environment. This year VERVE Open Door is landing at Ledbury! This is the chance for you to grace the festival stage with your very own poems, or simply come and enjoy the fun! With regular host Rick Sanders AKA Willis the Poet. BOOK YOUR TICKET PAMPHLET HOUR with AV Bridgewood, Ilisha Thiru Percell and Zain Rishi with host Zakariye. 1.30 - 2.30pm. OUR SEMI REGULAR pamphlet focussed event brings three stellar pamphleteers from some of our favourite indie poetry presses together to chat about this glorious format and read some of their poetry! AV Bridgwood will read from Snack (Ignition Press, 2025), Ilisha Thiru Purcell from What She Said (VERVE Poetry Press, 2025), and Zain Rishi from Noon (Emma Press, 2026). BOOK YOUR TICKET HoneyBEE & MEAT: A bespoke special by Elle Dillon-Reams. 3pm - 4pm. For one hour only, multi-award-winning poet and performer Elle Dillon-Reams brings something entirely new to Ledbury - a bespoke collision of her two critically acclaimed solo shows, HoneyBEE and MEAT, woven together with brand new spoken word pieces created exclusively for this festival. This is an hour of spoken word that lives at the crossroads of the lyric and the visceral. Theatre that knows how to wound and how to hold. Words with teeth and tenderness - queer, unflinching, and full of hard-won joy and rebellious hope. BOOK YOUR TICKET QUEER POETRY HEADLINE EVENT: Leo Biox, Keith Jarrett, and Peter Scalpello, with host Joelle Taylor. 4:30 - 6pm. OUR FIRST EVER Queer headline event features three incredible poets, all giants in their way on the contemporary UK poetry scene. We’re thrilled to have Leo Boix with us reading from his brilliant recent collection, Southernmost: Sonnets (Chatto, 2025). Joining Leo are Keith Jarrett and Peter Scalpello. This is incredibly Keith's first time at a VERVE event. His most recent publication, Hide Me Under the Blood and I Shall Be Satisfied (Bad Betty, 2026) is a Poetry Book Society Spring Recommendation. Peter joins us to celebrate publication of his wonderful second full collection, Mirrorstage (Cipher Press, 2026). BOOK YOUR TICKET DICE SLAM: Devised by Bohdan Piasecki. 6.30 - 8pm. IN OUR 'DICE SLAM' our 'competitors' - Elle Dillon-Reams, Keith Jarrett, Zain Rishi and Zakariye - will give it their best slam shot, however the 'judges' - a secret selection of Birmingham poetry stalwarts - will need to adapt their comments to scores provided by the roll of a dice, good, bad or ugly. Join us for what will be a lively, vastly contentious and ultimately fun poetry slam with a difference! BOOK YOUR TICKET

VERVE Poetry and Spoken Word Festival hosts an annual Poetry Festival in Birmingham, Online Poetry Workshop series, and Poetry Book Shop. VERVE FESTIVAL of POETRY & SPOKEN WORD Subscribe to our newsletter Email* Join I want to subscribe to your mailing list. * subscription options I'd like to subscribe to Poem of the Month only. I'd like to subscribe to festival specific events, tickets and news. I'd like to subscribe for online workshops only. I'd like everything please! Feb 24-28, 2027 'VERVE Poetry Festival Stands at the beating heart of all that is poetry, and all that might be. Bibrant, alive, provactive and curious - we need more festivals like this.' - VERVE Patron Joelle Taylor T. S. Eliot Prize-winning poet, former UK Slam Champion, and founder of SLAMbassadors, whose work has electrified international stages and earned her a fellowship of The Royal Society of Literature ABOUT Not just an annual 5 day poetry festival! We also host monthly open mic nights, quarterly featured poetry, a year long Poetry Collective for new writers, and a sell out workshop series featuring established poets all year long. CONTACT VERVE VERVE has cultivated a reputation for its dynamic and celebratory approach to programming poetry of every kind, whether it be raucous spoken word events, quiet poetry readings, studious workshops, immersive poetry, collaborative projects, or open mic. MISSION & HISTORY LOCATION BIRMINGHAM @ THE HIVE / THE HIPPODROME / GLEE CLUB / CHERRY REDS / ONLINE INFO 'Being at the Verve Poetry Festival feels like an instant buzz of energy. It comes from every direction: the vibrant diversity of the audiences, the imaginative programming, the connection with other poets at every stage in their careers. It is the poetry festival that Birmingham richly deserves'. - VERVE Patron Imtiaz Dharker Multi-award-winning poet, artist and filmmaker, recipient of the Queen’s Gold Medal for Poetry, former Chancellor of Newcastle University, and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature, whose work has been studied on the UK national curriculum. OUR PATRONS Imtiaz Dharker A Pakistani-born British poet, artist, and video film maker. She won the Queen's Gold Medal for her English poetry and was appointed Chancellor of Newcastle University from January 2020. She is a prescribed poet on the British AQA GCSE English syllabus and her most recent collection is Shadow Reader (Bloodaxe, 2024). She received the Cholmondeley Award, and is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature. Imtiaz has appeared at VERVE three times including a career review interview event with Poetry Unbound in 2024. Joelle Taylor is the author of five collections of poetry. Her collection C+NTO & Othered Poems won the 2021 T.S Eliot Prize, and the 2022 Polari Book Prize for LGBT authors. This was followed up in November 2025 by Maryville (Bloomsbury) which continues the story started in C+NTO . Her novel of inter-connecting stories The Night Alphabet was published by Riverrun in Spring of 2024. She is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature, and has appeared at VERVE four times including our very first festival in 2017. Hannah Silva A writer and performer working in sound poetry, radio, and experimental non-fiction. She has an MFA in Theatre Practice and a PhD on poetry in performance from Stirling University. She is currently a Leverhulme Early Career fellow at Queen Mary University, London. Her most recent work is the performative non-fiction book My Child, the Algorithm (Footnote, 2023). Hannah has appeared at VERVE three times, including the first festival in 2017 and always completely memorably. Daljit Nagra is a poet, professor of poetry, presenter of a weekly poetry programme on Radio, former Chair of the Royal Society of Literature, and Lead Advisor to Poetry By Heart. He has won The Forward Prize for Best Individual Poem and Best First Book, the South Bank Show Decibel Award and Cholmondeley Award. His next collection, Yiewsley , is published with Faber in May 2026. Daljit has appeared at VERVE three times including our popular zoom workshop series and was the first poet to read at our very first festival in 2017. 'VERVE has hand-crafted community, aspiration and pride in the Birmingham poetry and spoken word scene out of pure passion, quirk and creative ideas over the past almost-decade. VERVE is a central reason why Birmingham is seen as a centre and beacon for poetry and development.' - Jazmine Gardosi Jasmine Gardosi is a previous Birmingham Poet Laureate, a BBC Words First finalist, and the 2021 UK Slam Champion, known for her electrifying performances blending poetry, beatboxing, and gender identity. OUR PARTNERS STAY IN THE LOOP SUBSCRIBE Subscribe to our newsletter Email* Join I want to subscribe to your mailing list. * subscription options I'd like to subscribe to Poem of the Month only. I'd like to subscribe to festival specific events, tickets and news. I'd like to subscribe for online workshops only. I'd like everything please! CONTACT VERVE

Sunday 11th October at Royal Birmingham Conservatoire. Poetry events programmed by VERVE Poetry for Birmingham Literature Festival. Featuring live spoken word, CRATE POETRY! - the Jules Holland of poetry, debut poets, poetry workshops, and headline poetry night. VERVE POETRY @ BIRMINGHAM LITERATURE FESTIVAL SUNDAY 11TH OCTOBER 2026 Further info below Programme of VERVE POETRY events. Young Poets Takeover: If you’re aged 25 or younger, bring a poem and arrive early to sign up for our open mic. Featuring headline sets from Birmingham based British-Pakistani Young Poet Hala Qamar and Coventry former Foyles Young Poet Scarlet Timlett. 11 October 2026 at 11:00:00 200 Jennens Rd, Birmingham B4 7XR, UK Info & Tickets VERVE Patron Joelle Taylor in an extended solo performance from Maryville Quite probably the best poetry performer of her generation, be mesmerised as Joelle reads and embodies a selection of poems from Maryville (Bloomsbury, 2025). 11 October 2026 at 14:45:00 200 Jennens Rd, Birmingham B7 4EJ, UK Info & Tickets VERVE Debutants: poets near the start of their journey. Roma Havers, Ellora Sutton and special guest Rupinder Kaur Waraich with host Sabeen Chaudhury. 11 October 2026 at 13:15:00 200 Jennens Rd, Birmingham B7 4EJ, UK Info & Tickets VERVE HEADLINE EVENT: Mona Arshi, Sarah Howe, Rachel Long with host Jo Bell Mona Arshi is back for the first time since 2017 reading from her PBS Autumn Choice, Mouth (Chatto, 2025). Joining Mona are Sarah Howe and Rachel Long. 11 October 2026 at 16:00:00 200 Jennens Rd, Birmingham B7 4EJ, UK Info & Tickets WORKSHOP: Portals, Time Travel & How to Slant and Disrupt Narrative with Rachel Long Create poems rich with tension, resonance, and surprise. Expect to leave with a clutch of new poems that slant, disrupt and innovate. 11 October 2026 at 13:30:00 200 Jennens Rd, Birmingham B7 4EJ, UK Info & Tickets VERVE presents CRATE POETRY LIVE! Tyrone Houghton, Nafeesa Hamid, Bradley Taylor & Maddie. Hosted by Paul Stringer, with open mic. Crate Poetry Live! Is a contemporary live poetry show in a TV studio style format. 11 October 2026 at 18:00:00 200 Jennens Rd, Birmingham B7 4EJ, UK Info & Tickets POETRY EVENTS AT BIRMINGHAM LITERATURE FESTIVAL SUNDAY 11TH OCTOBER 2026 Royal Birmingham Conservatoire THIS YEAR, VERVE POETRY is popping up at festivals across the region. Earlier in the year, we had a wonderful day at Ledbury Poetry Festival, and now we're delighted to be taking over one day at Birmingham Literature Festival too. We'll be bringing our usual mix of stellar poetry stars, lively performance poetry, emerging voices and events for young people. Huge thanks to Clive, Jonathan and the whole BLF team for gifting us the day and folding us into their brilliant programme. Full Birmingham Literature Festival Programme

INTRODUCING our VERVE for LIFE Membership WE ARE OFFERING FOR THE FIRST TIME A LIMITED NUMBER OF PAID MEMBERSHIPS ALLOWING VERVE SUPPORTERS TO BECOME MEMBERS FOR LIFE AND RECEIVE A WHOLE HOST OF BENEFITS. DONATE WITH BENEFITS DURING THIS DIFFICULT TIME FOR THE ARTS, WE WANTED TO OFFER A CLEAR, EASY AND BENEFICIAL WAY OF DONATING TO SUPPORT OUR FESTIVAL. PLEASE SEE BELOW FOR THREE DONATION WITH BENEFITS OPTIONS. WE APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT! DONATE £30 THOSE WHO MAKE A ONE OFF DONATION OF £30 AND FILL IN THE FORM BELOW WILL RECEIVE A VERVE POETRY PRESS TITLE OF THEIR CHOICE ALONG WITH A VERVE POETRY FESTIVAL PIN BADGE. DONATE £45 THOSE WHO MAKE A ONE OFF DONATION OF £45 AND FILL IN THE FORM BELOW WILL RECEIVE A VERVE POETRY PRESS TITLE OF THEIR CHOICE, A VERVE POETRY FESTIVAL PIN BADGE AND SIX FREE ENTRIES TO A VERVE POETRY COMPETITION OF THEIR CHOOSING. DONATE £60 THOSE WHO MAKE A ONE OFF DONATION OF £60 AND FILL IN THE FORM BELOW WILL RECEIVE A VERVE POETRY PRESS TITLE OF THEIR CHOICE, A VERVE POETRY FESTIVAL PIN BADGE, SIX FREE ENTRIES TO A VERVE POETRY COMPETITION OF THEIR CHOOSING AND THE CHOICE OF A FREE PLACE ON ONE OF OUR REGULAR ZOOM POETRY WORKSHOPS. ALTERNATIVELY FOR A SLIGHTLY LARGER CONTRIBUTION YOU CAN GRAB ONE OF OUR LIMITED MEMBERSHIPS WHICH GIVE YOU DISCOUNTED ACCESS TO ALL THAT WE DO, REGULAR HEADS-UPS ON WHAT'S HAPPENING AND MUCH MORE! CLICK BELOW TO FIND OUT MORE! VERVE FOR LIFE £100 VERVE FOR LIFE GOLD £300 VERVE DONATION FORM First name(Required) Last name(Required) Email(Required) Receipt ID of PayPal Transaction(Required) Multi-line address Country/Region(Required) Address(Required) City(Required) Zip / Postal code(Required) Anything else you’d like us to know? Tick this box if you would NOT like to appear as a member on our website. Tick this box if you would NOT like to join our mailing list. Submit Thankyou for all the support you have already given us! We look forward to bringing you as much poetry as we are able. More news on this very soon! x ___________________________________________________________________________

INTRODUCING our VERVE for LIFE Membership WE ARE OFFERING FOR THE FIRST TIME A LIMITED NUMBER OF PAID MEMBERSHIPS ALLOWING VERVE SUPPORTERS TO BECOME MEMBERS FOR LIFE AND RECEIVE A WHOLE HOST OF BENEFITS. YOU BELONG HERE DUE TO OUR RECENT FUNDING NEWS, WE ARE NOW ALSO OFFERING A LIMITED NUMBER OF PAID GOLD MEMBERSHIPS ALLOWING VERVE SUPPORTERS TO BECOME MEMBERS FOR LIFE AND RECEIVE A WHOLE HOST OF EXTRA BENEFITS . COULD YOU BECOME A VALUED GOLD MEMBER OF VERVE FOR LIFE? 'Being at the Verve Poetry Festival feels like an instant buzz of energy. It comes from every direction: the vibrant diversity of the audiences, the imaginative programming, the connection with other poets at every stage in their careers. It is the poetry festival that Birmingham richly deserves'. - VERVE Patron Imtiaz Dharker Multi-award-winning poet, artist and filmmaker, recipient of the Queen’s Gold Medal for Poetry, former Chancellor of Newcastle University, and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature, whose work has been studied on the UK national curriculum. JOIN NOW VERVE FOR LIFE allows an EXTREMELY STRICTLY LIMITED number of people to purchase a LIFETIME MEMBERSHIP for a ONE OFF payment of £300. ONCE THEY ARE GONE THEY'RE GONE PAY FOR YOUR LIFETIME GOLD MEMBERSHIP This payment secures one GOLD membership of VERVE For Life After completing your payment, please fill out the form below This membership is limited to the first 50 applicants only. Thank you so much for deciding to be part of VERVE! VERVE FOR LIFE £300 OR READ ON FOR MORE INFO... WHAT's THE DEAL? GOLD Membership costs a one off payment of £300 and is FOR LIFE Members qualify for 20% OFF across all VERVE Poetry Activity FOR LIFE Includes 20% off VERVE Poetry Festival event tickets (in-person and online) and any other paid events we put on. 20% off Workshops including those delivered at the festival as well as our zoom workshop series. 20% off Competition Entrie s, including our annual Poem of the Festival competition and our (most) monthly Poem of the Month competitions 20% off Books from our physical bookshop at the festival or our year round website bookshop at vervepoetrybookshop.com OTHER PERKS INCLUDE a one week head-start to purchase unlimited tickets for our festival and workshops. Other special offers and exclusives on a regular basis. Twice years zoom members' meeting - ask us anything, get your views heard. AND probably best of all, you will get a numbered membership card and an exclusive metal VERVE pin-badge! WHAT's THE TIMELINE? Memberships will open for purchase on 20th February 2026 . Memberships will be strictly limited to 50 members They will remain open until that number has been reached and then they will close. Once closed, this offer will not be repeated in this form. Any future new GOLD membership activity is either likely to involve a smaller annual subscription or a more expensive one off fee. WHERE DOES THE MONEY GO? During these volatile times in the arts, we will use any money raised from this activity to strengthen our organisation and put us on a more sustainable footing. It will also enable us to continue funding our FREE community poetry projects . Open Door community poetry open mic. Free children's & young people's events at our annual festival The VERVE Collective. Providing paid opportunities for emerging poets and support for works in progress. 'VERVE Poetry Festival Stands at the beating heart of all that is poetry, and all that might be. Bibrant, alive, provactive and curious - we need more festivals like this.' - VERVE Patron Joelle Taylor Joelle Taylor is the T. S. Eliot Prize-winning poet, former UK Slam Champion, and founder of SLAMbassadors, whose work has electrified international stages and earned her an MBE for services to poetry. JOIN NOW PAY FOR YOUR LIFETIME GOLD MEMBERSHIP This payment secures one GOLD membership of VERVE For Life After completing your payment, please fill out the form below This membership is limited to the first 50 applicants only. Thank you so much for deciding to be part of VERVE! VERVE FOR LIFE £300 VERVE FOR LIFE MEMBERSHIP FORM First name(Required) Last name(Required) Email(Required) Receipt ID of PayPal Transaction(Required) Multi-line address Country/Region(Required) Address(Required) City(Required) Zip / Postal code(Required) Anything else you’d like us to know? Tick this box if you would NOT like to appear as a member on our website. Tick this box if you would NOT like to join our mailing list. Submit Remember: YOU BELONG HERE. We are nothing without you. We know you want to see, hear, read, write and learn more about exceptional POETRY. We know you seek community that is welcoming, caring, celebratory and supportive and that centres around POETRY. We know that you value ease and affordability of participation for all, including the young and marginalised. JOIN US AND BECOMING AN EVEN BIGGER PART OF THE VERVE PROJECT!! ___________________________________________________________________________

INTRODUCING our VERVE for LIFE Membership WE ARE OFFERING FOR THE FIRST TIME A LIMITED NUMBER OF PAID MEMBERSHIPS ALLOWING VERVE SUPPORTERS TO BECOME MEMBERS FOR LIFE AND RECEIVE A WHOLE HOST OF BENEFITS. YOU BELONG HERE WE ARE OFFERING FOR THE FIRST TIME A LIMITED NUMBER OF PAID MEMBERSHIPS ALLOWING VERVE SUPPORTERS TO BECOME MEMBERS FOR LIFE AND RECEIVE A WHOLE HOST OF BENEFITS . COULD YOU BECOME A VALUED MEMBER OF VERVE FOR LIFE? 'Being at the Verve Poetry Festival feels like an instant buzz of energy. It comes from every direction: the vibrant diversity of the audiences, the imaginative programming, the connection with other poets at every stage in their careers. It is the poetry festival that Birmingham richly deserves'. - VERVE Patron Imtiaz Dharker Multi-award-winning poet, artist and filmmaker, recipient of the Queen’s Gold Medal for Poetry, former Chancellor of Newcastle University, and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature, whose work has been studied on the UK national curriculum. JOIN NOW VERVE FOR LIFE allows a STRICTLY LIMITED number of people to purchase a LIFETIME MEMBERSHIP for a ONE OFF payment of £100. ONCE THEY ARE GONE THEY'RE GONE PAY FOR YOUR LIFETIME MEMBERSHIP This payment secures one membership of VERVE For Life After completing your payment, please fill out the form below This membership is limited to the first 100 applicants only. Thank you so much for deciding to be part of VERVE! VERVE FOR LIFE £100 OR READ ON FOR MORE INFO... WHAT's THE DEAL? Membership costs a one off payment of £100 and is FOR LIFE Members qualify for 10% OFF across all VERVE Poetry Activity FOR LIFE Includes 10% off VERVE Poetry Festival event tickets (in-person and online) and any other paid events we put on. 10% off Workshops including those delivered at the festival as well as our zoom workshop series. 10% off Competition Entrie s, including our annual Poem of the Festival competition and our (most) monthly Poem of the Month competitions 10% off Books from our physical bookshop at the festival or our year round website bookshop at vervepoetrybookshop.com OTHER PERKS INCLUDE a one week head-start to purchase unlimited tickets for our festival and workshops. Other special offers and exclusives on a regular basis. Twice years zoom members' meeting - ask us anything, get your views heard. AND probably best of all, you will get a numbered membership card and an exclusive metal VERVE pin-badge! WHAT's THE TIMELINE? Memberships will open for purchase on 1st December 2025 . Memberships will be strictly limited to 100 members They will remain open until that number has been reached and then they will close. Once closed, this offer will not be repeated in this form. Any future new membership activity is either likely to involve a smaller annual subscription or a more expensive one off fee. WHERE DOES THE MONEY GO? During these volatile times in the arts, we will use any money raised from this activity to strengthen our organisation and put us on a more sustainable footing. It will also enable us to continue funding our FREE community poetry projects . Open Door community poetry open mic. Free children's & young people's events at our annual festival The VERVE Collective. Providing paid opportunities for emerging poets and support for works in progress. 'VERVE Poetry Festival Stands at the beating heart of all that is poetry, and all that might be. Bibrant, alive, provactive and curious - we need more festivals like this.' - VERVE Patron Joelle Taylor Joelle Taylor is the T. S. Eliot Prize-winning poet, former UK Slam Champion, and founder of SLAMbassadors, whose work has electrified international stages and earned her an MBE for services to poetry. JOIN NOW PAY FOR YOUR LIFETIME MEMBERSHIP This payment secures one membership of VERVE For Life After completing your payment, please fill out the form below This membership is limited to the first 100 applicants only. Thank you so much for deciding to be part of VERVE! VERVE FOR LIFE £100 VERVE FOR LIFE MEMBERSHIP FORM First name(Required) Last name(Required) Email(Required) Receipt ID of PayPal Transaction(Required) Multi-line address Country/Region(Required) Address(Required) City(Required) Zip / Postal code(Required) Anything else you’d like us to know? Tick this box if you would NOT like to appear as a member on our website. Tick this box if you would NOT like to join our mailing list. Submit Remember: YOU BELONG HERE. We are nothing without you. We know you want to see, hear, read, write and learn more about exceptional POETRY. We know you seek community that is welcoming, caring, celebratory and supportive and that centres around POETRY. We know that you value ease and affordability of participation for all, including the young and marginalised. JOIN US AND BECOMING AN EVEN BIGGER PART OF THE VERVE PROJECT!! ___________________________________________________________________________

INTRODUCING our VERVE for LIFE Membership WE ARE OFFERING FOR THE FIRST TIME A LIMITED NUMBER OF PAID MEMBERSHIPS ALLOWING VERVE SUPPORTERS TO BECOME MEMBERS FOR LIFE AND RECEIVE A WHOLE HOST OF BENEFITS. DONATE WITH BENEFITS DURING THIS DIFFICULT TIME FOR THE ARTS, WE WANTED TO OFFER A CLEAR, EASY AND BENEFICIAL WAY OF DONATING TO SUPPORT OUR FESTIVAL. PLEASE SEE BELOW FOR THREE DONATION WITH BENEFITS OPTIONS. WE APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT! DONATE £30 THOSE WHO MAKE A ONE OFF DONATION OF £30 AND FILL IN THE FORM BELOW WILL RECEIVE A VERVE POETRY PRESS TITLE OF THEIR CHOICE ALONG WITH A VERVE POETRY FESTIVAL PIN BADGE. DONATE £45 THOSE WHO MAKE A ONE OFF DONATION OF £45 AND FILL IN THE FORM BELOW WILL RECEIVE A VERVE POETRY PRESS TITLE OF THEIR CHOICE, A VERVE POETRY FESTIVAL PIN BADGE AND SIX FREE ENTRIES TO A VERVE POETRY COMPETITION OF THEIR CHOOSING. DONATE £60 THOSE WHO MAKE A ONE OFF DONATION OF £60 AND FILL IN THE FORM BELOW WILL RECEIVE A VERVE POETRY PRESS TITLE OF THEIR CHOICE, A VERVE POETRY FESTIVAL PIN BADGE, SIX FREE ENTRIES TO A VERVE POETRY COMPETITION OF THEIR CHOOSING AND THE CHOICE OF A FREE PLACE ON ONE OF OUR REGULAR ZOOM POETRY WORKSHOPS. ALTERNATIVELY FOR A SLIGHTLY LARGER CONTRIBUTION YOU CAN GRAB ONE OF OUR LIMITED MEMBERSHIPS WHICH GIVE YOU DISCOUNTED ACCESS TO ALL THAT WE DO, REGULAR HEADS-UPS ON WHAT'S HAPPENING AND MUCH MORE! CLICK BELOW TO FIND OUT MORE! VERVE FOR LIFE £100 VERVE FOR LIFE GOLD £300 VERVE DONATION FORM First name(Required) Last name(Required) Email(Required) Receipt ID of PayPal Transaction(Required) Multi-line address Country/Region(Required) Address(Required) City(Required) Zip / Postal code(Required) Anything else you’d like us to know? Tick this box if you would NOT like to appear as a member on our website. Tick this box if you would NOT like to join our mailing list. Submit Thankyou for all the support you have already given us! We look forward to bringing you as much poetry as we are able. More news on this very soon! x ___________________________________________________________________________

Submissions open every 1st – 20th of each month | £3 per poem | £5 for three | £100 for poem of the month | Optional monthly theme (follow it or break the rules — we love a rebel) | Judged by Stuart Bartholomew (VERVE Poetry Press & Festival Founder) and Hayley Frances (VERVE Co-Director) | Submit your poems via our Website Form & pay securely through PayPal | This is your invitation. This is your space. YOU BELONG HERE. Enter now and let your words take center stage! THEMES FOR THE YEAR Our overarching theme is GIVE IT SOME VERVE . We've mapped out the sub-themes for the next 12 months. Each theme encourages bold, boundary-pushing interpretations while still making room for deep, personal, and experimental writing. April 2026 OOMPH (WHEN IT LANDS) Force. Punch. Momentum. Something has to happen. May 2026 VIVACITY (ALIVE AND SHOWING IT) Liveliness. Animation. Not just being alive, but showing it. June 2026 SPIRIT (OR WHATEVER YOU CALL IT) Drive. Belief. Stubborn internal fuel. What keeps you going. July 2026 TOO MUCH (OOMPH GONE ROGUE) Excess. Overdrive. When energy tips into chaos. August 2026 GET-UP-AND-GO (NO WAITING AROUND) Initiation. Doing the thing. No waiting for the right mood. September 2026 THE VERVE (THE BAND) Sound. Lyric. Cultural memory. Borrow, respond, distort. December 2026 PARTY TRICKs (SHOW US) Whats your special skill. Precision as performance. Show us. January 2027 VERBA (WORDS THAT DO SOMETHING) Language that does something. Not decorative. February 2027 VERVE (TRY AND DEFINE IT) What is it, actually? Where is it? Who has it? March 2027 NO VERVE (WHEN NOTHING CATCHES) Deadness. Stagnation. Withholding. The absence of spark. Join POTM Join our email list to receive POEM OF THE MONTH reminders, shortlists, winners and news. Subscribe to our newsletter Email* Join I want to subscribe to your mailing list. * subscription options I'd like to subscribe to Poem of the Month only. I'd like to subscribe to festival specific events, tickets and news. I'd like to subscribe for online workshops only. I'd like everything please! OUR NEXT POEM OF THE MONTH OPENS APRIL 1st AND CLOSE ON APRIL 20th. Watch this space for more details. VERVE’s Poem of the Month YOU BELONG HERE or maybe you don’t? Maybe you don’t care? Maybe you write poems that spit in the face of belonging? Either way, we wanna read ‘em! A monthly poetry competition for the bold, the beautiful, the bizarre, and the brilliant! £100 prize for the winning poem £3 per poem, £6 for three (see where the money goes below) Max 3 poems per person per month OPTIONAL monthly theme (follow it or completely rebel against it – we respect chaos) Judge: Stuart Bartholomew (VERVE Poetry Press & Festival Founder) Assistant Judges: Hayley Frances (Co-Director) & Collective Members AI-Generated Poems? Get outta here WHAT's THE DEAL? WHAT's THE TIMELINE? 1st of each month: Submissions open 20th of each month: Submissions close. (No, we can't read late poems. We are poets, not wizards.) 31st of Month: Winner announced + winning poem featured on our website, socials and sent out to *thousands* of poets, publishers, other poetry industry people and, dare-we-say it normal people subscribed to VERVE. WHAT's THE TONE? Poetry doesn’t have to be serious or traditional, but it does need to be poetry. Poems are multilayered, crafted, considered, and at some level, make or question our senses with figurative language. Be you. Don't try to perform your poem as you write it. Don't try to be a poet, just write the specifics, be the director behind the lens - it's your poem and it needs to sound like you. Don't use flowery language if it's not you. Be original. Journalling or unconscious writing so often used to loosen the mind in poetry workshops is not poetry, it is used to create poetry. Remember this when you send stuff in. Take care of yourselves. We receive a lot of very personal very serious poems. When you are writing difficult topics, or reciting trauma, ensure you have enough distance and support around you. You may pour yourself on the page, get a rejection and this may not be the best for your mental health. We love reading your poems. Look after yourselves, give yourself space from initial draft for the edit. Poems feel different depending on how we feel when we read them. Come as you are. Write what you want. Make it POETRY! WHERE DOES THE MONEY GO? This incentive is not money making for us. It's not about making a profit or taking the limited funds poets / writers / artists make. Submission money is split between paying the winner of POEM OF THE MONTH and funding our FREE community poetry projects . Open Door community poetry open mic. The Collective. Poetry Mentorship. Free children's & young people's events at our annual festival. OUR PARTNERS CELEBRATING INCLUSIVE, EXPERIMENTAL & DIVERSE POETRY.

Submissions open every 1st – 20th of each month | £3 per poem | £6 for three | £100 for poem of the month | Optional monthly theme (follow it or break the rules — we love a rebel) | Judged by Stuart Bartholomew (VERVE Poetry Press & Festival Founder) and Hayley Frances (VERVE Co-Director) | Submit your poems via our Website Form & pay securely through PayPal | This is your invitation. This is your space. YOU BELONG HERE. Enter now and let your words take center stage! BUY 1 £3 ENTRY BUY 3 ENTRIES for £6 Once you've paid for your poem/'s, submit them here. (this link is also available in the menu, in your inbox and post payment) SUBMIT POEMS Poem of the Month A monthly poetry competition for the bold, the beautiful, the bizarre, and the brilliant! THE BENEFITS £100 prize for the winning poem £3 per poem, £6 for three (see where the money goes below) Publication across social platforms Judge: Stuart Bartholomew (VERVE Poetry Press & Festival Founder) Assistant Judge: Hayley Frances (Co-Director) AI-Generated Poems? Get outta here THE TIMELINE 1st of each month: Submissions open 20th of each month: Submissions close. (No, we will not read late poems. We are poets, not wizards.) End of Month: Winner announced + winning poem featured on our website, socials and sent out to *thousands* of poets, publishers, other poetry industry people and, dare-we-say it normal people subscribed to VERVE. THE RULES Poetry doesn’t have to be serious. It doesn’t have to be traditional. It doesn’t even have to make sense. It can also be everyone of these things. We haven't got all the time in the world, so - as standard - for the purpose of ensuring we are able to read everything that comes through to us; 40 Lines is the MAX we can accept for poems. Every poem needs to be saved and uploaded as PDF or doc.x file. No names on poems. Come as you are. Write what you want. Make it POETRY! Submissions open November1st. Submissions close November 20th. Spread the word. Tag a poet. Tell a friend. Start a movement. THE MONEY This incentive is not money making for us. It's not about making a profit or taking the limited funds poets / writers / artists make. Submission money is split between paying the winner of POEM OF THE MONTH and funding our FREE community poetry projects . Open Door community poetry open mic. The Collective. Poetry Mentorship. Free children's & young people's events at our annual festival. HOW TO SUBMIT OPTIONAL AUGUST THEME 'GET UP AND GO' BUY 1 £3 ENTRY BUY 3 ENTRIES for £6 Once you've paid for your poem/'s, submit them here. (this link is also available in the menu, in your inbox and post payment) SUBMIT HERE HOW TO SUBMIT OPTIONAL AUGUST THEME 'GET UP AND GO' BUY 1 £3 ENTRY BUY 3 ENTRIES for £6 Once you've paid for your poem/'s, submit them here. (this link is also available in the menu, in your inbox and post payment) SUBMIT HERE

VERVE FESTIVAL of POETRY & SPOKEN WORD Experience more poetry for your money with one of our FESTIVAL PASSES . £60/£45 (cons) FESTIVAL PASS £35/£26 (cons) SATURDAY PASS £20/£15 (cons) SUNDAY PASS £50/£35 (cons) ONLINE PASS FEBRUARY 13th - 16th 2025 FULL LINE-UP & EVENT PROGRAMME BELOW ALL EVENTS POETRY SPOKEN WORD WORKSHOPS YOUNG PEOPLE SPOKEN WORD VERVE X LOUD POETRY SLAM Birmingham Heat Thursday - 7pm More Info Book Stream Book Tickets WORKSHOP LYRIC SHAME Susannah Dickey Friday - 3:30pm More Info Book Tickets POETRY FRIDAY NIGHT HEADLINE EVENT Dzifa Benson, Anthony Joseph, Richard Scott with host Helen Bowell Friday - 8:30pm More Info Book Stream Book Tickets YOUNG PEOPLE POETRY SOCIETY YOUNG POETS OPEN MIC Saturday - 11:00am More Info Book Stream Book Tickets SPOKEN WORD POETRY PERFORMANCE LECTURE Susannah Dickey Saturday - 1pm More Info Book Stream Book Tickets WORKSHOP THE SWERVE Ruth Padel Saturday - 3pm More Info Book Tickets SPOKEN WORD BIG GAY POETRY NIGHT Joelle Taylor, Kandace Siobhan Walker & Sanah Ahsan Saturday - 8pm More Info Book Stream Book Tickets SPOKEN WORD OUR POETRY FESTIVAL COMPETITION EVENT Hannah Lowe Sunday - 11am More Info Book Stream Book Tickets POETRY LAUNCHING THE NEW CARTHAGINIANS Nick Makoha Sunday - 1pm More Info Book Stream Book Tickets WORKSHOP WHICHING AND PITCHING The Emma Press Sunday 4pm More Info Book Tickets WORKSHOP SPEAKING THE SILENCES : language of the lacuna Scarlett Ward Friday - 1pm More Info Book Tickets WORKSHOP TURNING MOVEMENT INTO POETRY Dzifa Benson Friday - 4pm More Info Book Tickets WORKSHOP MAKING THE ORDINARY EXTRAORDINARY Laurie Bolger Saturday - 9:30am More Info Book Tickets WORKSHOP ANCESTRY, INTERTEXTUALITY & GHOSTS Richard Scott Saturday - 12:00pm More Info Book Tickets POETRY MAGMA MATTERS: Past, Present and Future Various Magma Regular and Specific Issue Editors Saturday - 2:30pm More Info Book Stream Book Tickets SPOKEN WORD POETRY UNBOUND SPECIAL Imtiaz Dharker with Padraig O Tuama. Saturday - 4:30pm More Info Book Stream Book Tickets WORKSHOP THE WALL AS THIN AS A WREN's BONE Carrie Etter Sunday - 9:30am More Info Book Tickets WORKSHOP VALENTINES HOT & COLD Anthony Vahni Capildeo Sunday - 12pm More Info Book Tickets POETRY SUNDAY HEADLINE EVENT Helen Calcutt, Carrie Etter, Ruth Padel, Padraig O Tuama Sunday 2:30pm More Info Book Stream Book Tickets SPOKEN WORD VERVE CLOSING GALA WITH OPEN MIC Hosted by Sam J Grudgings Sunday 4:30pm More Info Book Stream Book Tickets WORKSHOP YOU WOULDN'T STEAL A POEM – a playful revolution Ellora Sutton Friday - 1:30pm More Info Book Tickets POETRY THE PAMPHLET HOUR Laurie Bolger, Troy Cabida, Betty Doyle, Ellora Sutton Friday - 7pm More Info Book Stream Book Tickets WORKSHOP THE SONNET: INSIDE & OUTSIDE FORM Anthony Joseph Saturday - 10:00am More Info Book Tickets WORKSHOP AFTER POEMS Theresa Lola Saturday - 12:30pm More Info Book Stream Book Tickets WORKSHOP FINDING MARY: IRISH ANCESTRY Helen Calcutt Saturday - 2:30pm More Info Book Tickets POETRY SATURDAY NIGHT HEADLINE EVENT Theresa Lola, Victoria Kennefick, Anthony Vahni Capildeo with host Jo Bell Saturday - 6pm More Info Book Stream Book Tickets WORKSHOP YOU. YOU. YOU. The Lyric Address in Poetry Padraig O Tuama Sunday - 10am More Info Book Tickets WORKSHOP A FAMILY AFFAIR Victoria Kennefick Sunday - 12:30pm More Info Book Tickets WORKSHOP SOUNDSCAPE IN POETRY Aoife Lyall Sunday 2:30pm More Info Book Tickets

WORKSHOP ANCESTRY, INTERTEXTUALITY & GHOSTS Richard Scott LOCATION BIRMINGHAM HIPPODROME ABOUT THE EVENT TIME Saturday - 12:00pm PRICE £24.50 / £18.50 Book Tickets ‘The houses are haunted’, writes Wallace Stevens and maybe, by this, he means poetry. Join Richard Scott for this workshop in which we'll consider our poetic ancestors and how they might inspire -- through intertextuality, idea and form -- our writing now. We'll be doing writing exercises and discussing poems together as we become, in the words of Lucie Brock-Broido, ‘a freak of letters crossing down a rare / Path bleak with poplars’. ABOUT THE POET Richard Scott was born in London in 1981. His first book Soho (Faber & Faber, 2018), was a Gay’s the Word book of the year and shortlisted for the T. S. Eliot prize. His second poetry collection, That Broke into Shining Crystals , is forthcoming from Faber & Faber in February 2025. Richard is a lecturer in creative writing at Goldsmiths, University of London where he also runs a poetry reading group, and he teaches poetry at the Faber Academy. His poetry has been translated into German and French.