TEN has been awarded a Poetry Book Society ‘Special Commendation’.
(Cover by Chris Offili)
‘Ten sparkling new talents who demonstrate the richness, energy and confidence of the poetic voice in our multicultural country. It is a joyful and important moment in publishing.’ Carol Ann Duffy, Poet Laureate.
I am proud to be a part of it. This New anthology supports Black and minority ethnic poets. I have to thank Bernardine Evaristo MBE who had the foresight to initiate an Arts Council report (Free Verse) into why so few Black and Asian poets were getting published in the UK. Published in 2007, Free verse was a report into diversity in poetry publishing, which revealed that less than one per cent of poetry published by major presses in the UK was by Black and Asian poets. As a result Spread the Word initiated a two-year project called The Complete Works, which offered participants an individually assigned poet-mentor as well as a tailored professional and creative development programme. Ten marks the culmination of the project and is a recipient of a Poetry Book Society Special Commendation for autumn 2010