Throughout summer 2021 at Curve we’ll be exhibiting poetry written as part of our recent Community Creative Writing Challenge, as well as film and other digital performances created by Curve’s Associate Companies, Sidekick and Moving Together, and Curve’s Young Company.

But it’s not too late for YOU to get involved, too!

Mr Shay and Ty’rone Haughton – two of Leicester’s most celebrated poets – have written a helpful resource pack for budding poets and wordsmiths to get involved – and maybe even appear in our exhibition!

The poetry will tell the story of Leicester during – and after – lockdown and within this pack you’ll find resources, ideas and exercises to help you write your own poem at home, or as part of your creative writing group.

Everybody is invited to submit their work for consideration in this exciting project so please do send your finished poems in whatever format best suits you to us by emailing [email protected].

Deadline: Please send your poems to us by Saturday 31st July.

Explore the resource pack here:

Over the last few months a group of participants from across Leicester City came together via Zoom to take part in poetry and spoken-word workshops led by local poets Mr Shay and Ty’rone Haughton. Inspired by Leicester City Council’s ‘We’ve Missed You’ campaign and its ‘By The Clock Tower’ poem especially written by Arch Creative co-founder Joe Nixon – the focus of the European Regional Development Fund’s (ERDF) Re-opening High Streets Safely campaign – participants created their own poems celebrating the diversity, resilience, and individuality of the people of Leicester and their optimism as lockdown eases and what people are most looking forward to. Together, they created a collaborative poem, which has been filmed across Leicester and its neighbourhoods.

Watch the ‘By The Clock Tower’ poem here.

Watch the ‘The People’s Poem’ here.