Rebecca Swift Foundation gets two further years of ACE funding to expand its Women Poets’ Network
The Rebecca Swift Foundation has received project grant funding from Arts Council England to develop its UK-wide Women Poets’ Network over the next two years.
Rebecca Swift Foundation founder Aki Schilz said: “We are completely delighted to receive this vital support from Arts Council England as we develop our work supporting women poets across the UK. We remain entirely committed to platforming and advocating the brilliant work of our community, and making even more connections to ensure that women poets can thrive and be recognised on the global stage, as well as supported holistically.”
The two-year project ‘By Poets, For Poets’ will provide a range of support. This will include online open mic events for women poets to share their work and network, as well as in-person events led by Creative Associates, who will curate three new regional hubs in the North East, Midlands and London.
Professional development micro bursaries will be offered to enable women poets to engage in activity in their local poetry community. It will also offer a training programme for emerging poet-facilitators led by Deanna Rodger. An anthology of women poets produced in partnership with Fly on the Wall Press is also part of the programme.
A poetry symposium with impact reports and expert panel discussions aimed at finding solutions to the challenges faced by women poets will round up the project.
The Rebecca Swift Foundation (RSF) is a UK registered charity set up in memory of Rebecca Swift, an editor, novelist, diarist, poet, and founder and director of The Literary Consultancy from its foundation in 1996 until her early death in April 2017. The foundation is overseen by a board of trustees, with Degna Stone as project manager.
Launched in 2022 with the support of a one-year Arts Council England project grant, the Women Poets’ Network develops the Rebecca Swift Foundation’s network of events and resources specifically for women poets.
