Collections in Verse: Sheffield

Collections in Verse: Sheffield

In 2019/20 Poet in the City worked with Sheffield based poets, Rachel Bower, Kayo Chingonyi and Joe Kriss. We commissioned these poets to create new poetry inspired by the British Library exhibition Anglo-Saxon Kingdoms: Art, Word, War. Using the exhibition as a starting point, each poet was paired with a branch library in Woodseats, Firth Park and Highfields to explore their research with the local community. Interacting with library visitors and local people through poetic journalism, listening workshops and pop-up interventions, local voices and stories have been integral to the creation of new poetry.

Digesting History is the finale event to celebrate the culmination of the work across Sheffield over the last year. Poet in the City has taken inspiration from the Anglo-Saxon feasting experience to bring communities together for food and storytelling. Digesting History was originally curated as three-courses of poetry and performance, taking place across multiple rooms within the Central Library in Sheffield. The impact of Covid-19 has invited us to reimagine the ethos and themes of the planned event in an exciting new format, that honours the incredible poetry and the wonderful stories people across the city have contributed to the project.

Visit our Digesting History page here, and book your ticket for the event on 25 February 2021.

More poetic treats will be available here following the event.