20 June 2013
PRESS RELEASE
Poetry Competition Waxes Lyrical
About the Black Country
♦ Museum launches second annual poetry competition ♦
♦ Region’s industrial might inspires verse ♦
Black Country Living Museum today launched its annual Prize Poetry Competition and invited Black Country bards to wax lyrical about the region.
Wordsmith’s will become well-versed in Black Country history as this year’s theme focuses on the ‘The Industrial Landscape’, drawing inspiration from the region’s great might during the Industrial Revolution.
The Black Country has a tradition of encouraging literary creativity and the smoking wastelands of the region inspired authors from Dickens to Tolkien. In the ‘Old Curiosity Shop’ Dickens described how the area’s chimney’s “poured out their plague of smoke, obscured the light, and made foul the melancholy air”; J. R. R. Tolkien based the grim region of Mordor, in his novel The Lord of the Rings, on the Black Country.
Mel Weatherley, Head of Learning at Black Country Living Museum said: “The sing-song qualities of the local dialect and the rhythm and beat of the heavy metal industries have also inspired local poets and musicians. It seems appropriate therefore to continue to use the landscape, its traditions and heritage to inspire creativity through poetry.”
Poets can put pen to paper and celebrate Black Country industry in verse and with almost every industry in the Empire dependant on Black Country products there’s a wealth of heritage to eulogise. Black Country men from Hingleys of Netherton fashioned the anchors and chains for the Lusitania, the Olympic and the ill-fated Titanic. Black Country bridges and railway bogies, span rivers in India, Japan, South America, Egypt and Africa. Black Country ornamental ironwork graced the gates of the Royal House of Siam. Black Country ‘Penfold’ post boxes delivered mail to some of the world’s most remote communities including Muree in the Himalayas.
Entries for the poetry competition are invited from individuals aged 19 and over. Any form of poetry is acceptable but poems are limited to 40 lines.
The closing date for entries will be Friday 27th September 2013.
The winner will receive £100, a family ticket to Black Country Living Museum and publication in an anthology. Two runners-up will each receive £50, a family ticket to the Museum and publication. All winning entries will be published on the Museum website. Other entries may be published at the organiser’s discretion.
For more details and to download our poetry competition entry form, check out our website www.bclm.com
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Note to Editors:
About the Museum
Established in 1978, Black Country Living Museum is one of the UK’s leading open-air museums. Designated by Arts Council England for the quality and national significance of its collections, it is a remarkable place to explore, enjoy and spend time. Set in 26 acres with over 150 historic buildings and features, and attracting c250,000 visitors each year and almost 8m people since it first opened, it offers a glimpse into 200 years of history like no other. The Museum (a registered educational charity) records and exemplifies the contribution and impact of the Black Country region since the 18th century to the development of the modern industrialized world. Black Country folk changed the world, and the Museum tells the story of a very special time and place in history and some of the most hard-working, ingenious and influential people you could imagine. It offers a visitor experience that few others can match. www.bclm.com
Photographic Opportunity:
Image attached: Museum Chainmaker
For further information contact:
Fiona Carding, Media Relations Executive, Black Country Living Museum Tel: 0121 521 5692 Email: Mobile: 07901 575995