To mark the 10th anniversary year of Stamford having its very own poet laureate, this year the town has appointed not just one – but two – popular poets.
Following a selection process, deputy town mayor Cllr David Taylor, outgoing laureate Rob Ellks, and SKDC arts programme officer Karen Burrows decided on local poet Scott Coe as the new Stamford laureate.
They also appointed Daniel Paice as the inaugural Stamford youth laureate in a move to encourage a younger audience to pick up a pen and write.
The two laureates will work alongside each other, Scott writing poems for the traditional civic role with Daniel working in an outreach role with schools and youth groups.
Throughout the year the new poet laureate will work with Stamford Arts Centre and in the community to support the poetry scene and help to continue to make poetry part of the life of the town. Scott’s first official composition will be at the Mayor Making at Stamford Town Hall on May 12th.
He is looking forward to his year as Stamford laureate and said: “I can’t wait to help grow and support the local poetry scene and the local creative community as well.”
Nineteen-year-old Daniel said: “To be appointed is an absolute honour, and a bit surreal, to become the inaugural youth poetry laureate.
“I aim to show young people that poetry can be a creative outlet that can be accessed by all. It’s time to show that young and disabled people can achieve great things.”
