Building Back Creatively: A Poet in Residence for the Future

What are the most crucial issues facing future generations in Wales and beyond? Is it climate change, future skills, social justice, the survival of our culture and language? What are your hopes and wishes for your future and future generations? What should be our long-term legacy?

COVID-19 has highlighted the important role culture can play in enabling people to find escapism, express themselves, dream, imagine and feel connected. There have been many examples across Wales of artists, dancers, poets, performers, authors and others innovating to ensure our culture and languages are centre to our response and recovery.

The Well-being of Future Generations Act is unique to Wales as a law that requires the political actions of today to consider and protect the rights of people not yet born.

Wales’ pioneering well-being legislation attracts interest from countries across the world as it offers an opportunity to make a long-lasting, positive change to current and future generations.

During the year-long residency, the chosen poet will have the opportunity to engage with the Future Generations team, Future Generations Leadership Academy, public bodies and people across Wales to support the development of their work. They will also be supported through live performances and digital content.

Sophie Howe, Future Generations Commissioner for Wales, says:

“I’m very excited to invite a poet to join us as we continue to challenge and support public services to create the Wales we want for our future generations. I’m grateful to Rufus Mufasa as our first Poet in Residence for all the work she created – and I hope to build on the creative inspirations she developed.

“The arts play a critical role in our well-being and offers a different way of communicating and understanding the world around us.”

Examples of public bodies incorporating arts into other public services include Mererid Hopwood’s poetry residency at the palliative care unit Hywel Dda, University Health Board and Patrick Jones, poetry residency at the Royal College of Psychiatry in Wales.

The Commissioner added: “I am thrilled that we are able to work once again with a poet in Wales to creatively communicate our work and demonstrate our commitment to culture. Creative practitioners have adapted and embraced new ways of working during recent months and while they continue to face difficult challenges ahead, I hope this opportunity and of others across our public services in the coming months places a significant marker as we prepare not only to build back better but also build back creatively!”

Lleucu Siencyn, Chief Executive of Literature Wales says:

“Literature Wales is thrilled to be collaborating on this project with the Future Generations Commissioner and Wales Arts International. This role not only offers an opportunity for an emerging or established poet to gain new experiences and further develop their craft, but also to helps to lead the way for the younger generation to have their voices heard in a creative way and to show how poetry is a way to express ourselves and to share our ideas and concerns about the world.”

Eluned Hâf, Head of Wales Arts International, says:

“We are delighted to support this exciting residency. Culture, language and Wales’ talented artists have an important role to play in sustainable development. The challenge for the successful poet will be to inspire people in Wales and around the world to make a contribution to global aims and to our ground-breaking Well-being and Future Generations Act.”

Who can apply? 

Any poet living in Wales.

For more details on the residency please follow the link or contact:

contactus@futuregenerations.wales

Closing deadline: 12pm, 11th March 2021