BHAC 2019 Poetry Competition
in partnership with the University of Brighton
First prize – £1000
Runner up – £250
Second runner up – Work, Write, Live creative writing course (University of Brighton)
First prize – student competition – £150
Four highly commended prizes – £25
With thanks to our sponsors:
Brighton & Hove Arts Council are delighted to announce the opening of our 2019 Poetry Competition in partnership with the University of Brighton. The competition is now open and will close on 20th October 2019. All poems will be judged by Dr Jess Moriarty MA – who is course leader of creative writing at the University of Brighton.
The Open Competition is open to anyone over the age of 16 years by the closing date, and who is resident, working, studying or was born in Sussex. Entries will cost £6 for the first poem plus £4 for all subsequent poems with no limit to the number of entries.
The Young Students Competition, with free entry, is open to all students currently attending courses up to the closing date of the competition, which is midnight UK time on Sunday, 20th October 2019. Proof of study will be required. Again, there is no limit to the number of entries.
Each poem should have a title and not exceed 40 lines. It can be on any theme or subject. Each poem should be entered separately on the online entry form. Please do NOT include your name on the actual poem. Poems will be judged anonymously.
Full rules can be downloaded here: Full Competition Rules 2019
Overall winners will be notified in November 2019 but the exact nature of their win will be announced in full at the Awards Ceremony which will take place at our Festival at the Old Market, Hove on Sunday 24th November. Winners will be invited to read their poems on stage, given free entry to the festival and pre-purchased tickets will be refunded. See full details of the Poetry Festival on 24th November here
While copyright remains with the authors, winning poems will be published on Brighton & Hove Arts Council’s website.
Click here for access to the online Poetry Competition entry form
If you would prefer to print off the Poetry Competition entry form and send it by post, together with a cheque or postal order, then you can download it for printing here.