The National Poetry Library has launched a project called A Poet in Every Port as part of Southbank Centre's 75th anniversary celebrations. This initiative, featuring a Mobile National Poetry Library, recently completed a UK coastal tour visiting 11 locations. It aims to make poetry more accessible and encourage public engagement with the art form.
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A YouGov poll indicated that public sentiment towards poetry is mixed, with 27% expressing dislike, 32% positive feelings, and 32% remaining neutral. The project targets this neutral group, aiming to transform their perceptions and stimulate interest in poetry through direct community engagement.
The Mobile National Poetry Library, described by some as “a dream on wheels,” is equipped with children’s books, poetry games, writing prompts, and facilities for recording and performing poetry. During the tour, participants wrote over 400 poems, many creating poetry for the first time. They left with badges declaring, “I’m a poet.”
Dialect also played a key role in the project. Locals were invited to share their favorite words on a chalkboard at each location, helping to connect the community with their linguistic heritage. This approach emphasized that there is no