Freedom from Torture's literary festival will be returning as a live event this year, culminating in a special evening at the London Library. In advance of the festival we are delighted to announce the return of our poetry competition.
This year the competition will be judged by the eminent novelist and Booker Prize winner Alan Hollinghurst and Kirsty Allison, the editor of Ambit Magazine.
The theme, A New Chapter, celebrates the hope, optimism and strength that it takes for refugees and asylum seekers building a new life in the UK, especially for those who have survived torture. It can, of course, mean many different things to different people, and your entry should represent what a new chapter means for you.
Poems can be any length and style. Entry costs just £5. You can submit by donating here and adding your poem as an attachment. Poems must be the entrant’s original work. Entries must not have been published, self-published, broadcast or featured among the winners in any previous competition before.
Funds raised will support our creative group projects for survivors such as art, music and the creative writing group Write to Life, which is the longest-running refugee writing group in Britain, and the only one specifically for survivors of torture.
HOW TO ENTER
1. Donate £5 (or more, if you wish)
2. Complete your details and upload your poem here - (you can donate and enter the competition as many times as you like!)
3. We will be in touch if you are selected as one of the winners
If you have lived experience as a refugee or asylum seeker, you can enter free of charge by sending your poem to events@freedomfromtorture.org with the subject line 'Poetry competition'.
PRIZES:
First prize:
Perform your winning poem (live or pre-recorded) at our star-studded Literary evening hosted by Alexei Sayle at the London Library on 24 November alongside authors Julian Barnes, Elif Shafak, Alan Hollinghurst and poet Inua Ellams.
Receive two additional VIP tickets to our London Library Literary Evening
Winning poem is to be published in Ambit Magazine's 250th issue in March 2023.
A year's supply of Papier personalised notebooks and a bundle of books from the Folio Society
Runners up: a bundle of books from the Folio Society
All winners will have their poem featured on Freedom from Torture’s website with winners promoted on social media and promoted to press and media in the run-up to the event.
DEADLINE
5pm, October 28th 2022
QUERIES: If you have any questions or comments, please email us at events@freedomfromtorture.org