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Manchester creates new poetry prize

21.04.08 Anna Richardson

Manchester Metropolitan University’s Writing School is launching a new £10,000 poetry prize, hoping “to attract the best writers from the UK and internationally”.

The Manchester Poetry Prize will be awarded for the best portfolio of poems, with entrants asked to submit three to four pieces of work. The prize will be judged by T S Eliot Prize-winner Carol Ann Duffy and poets Gillian Clarke and Imtiaz Dharker.

News of the prize was well received by publishers. Chris Hamilton-Emery, publishing director of Salt Publishing, said: “It is a considerable amount of money, and prizes remain a great way to drive sales. MMU has a terrific reputation for nurturing sassy, edgy and innovative talent. The prize is a great move with a great team behind it.”

MMU is distributing 15,000 leaflets about the prize to schools, libraries and writing groups and has already received 300 inquiries from writers before the launch. Deadline for entries is 1st August.
There is also a prize for schools and colleges. The Young Writer’s Prize offers a bursary for study at MMU (winners can also opt for a £2,000 cash prize). The winners will be announced at the Royal Northern College of Music on 16th October as part of the Manchester Literature Festival.

Media Anna Richardson Salt Publishing Prize Manchester Metropolitan University

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