Collections in Verse

Bringing exhibitions to life through poetry

Poet in the City and the British Library collaborated on this multi-year project to establish a new approach to touring exhibitions. Over three years, Poet in the City commissioned new poetry and create events across England to tell the story of British Library exhibitions.

Working closely with local communities and artists in the North, South East and South West, we presented locally-specific versions of the exhibitions. Libraries in Leeds, Newcastle, Sheffield, Reading and Exeter became homes for ambitious live poetry events – creating new opportunities to celebrate and share exhibitions which would otherwise be difficult to access for local people in their city.

By bringing together poets, curators and local people to create exciting new work that weave local stories into the narrative of British Libraries exhibitions, we animated and amplified the exhibitions in ways that resounded specifically within the local community. The resulting commissions and curation was presented in exciting and ambitious ways, from dazzling library lates to poetry busking, poetic residencies, panel discussions and creative installations in public spaces.