Poetry School 1215.today Paid Digital Residency – Open for Applications!

1215.today commemorates 800 years of the Magna Carta in an online platform that gives young people a space to debate and create. It is a University of Lincoln project funded by Arts Council England. The  genesis of the project is Lincoln and its ownership of one of only four remaining copies of the first Magna Carta dating from 1215 and ownership of one of two remaining The Charter of the Forest dating from 1217. By looking, listening and talking about societal and individual rights through the lens of contemporary art, design, literature, music, film, drama and dance we aim to agitate and engage young people to create work about big issues.

Alongside artist commissions the 1215.today team are inviting guest editors,  creative groups and resident artists to ‘take over’ the site from time to time, bringing their own distinctive perspectives of what Magna Carta means today.

“I found a precious space to start exploring how powerful poetry can be when deployed to unpack an emotive and complex cause. Sometimes a couple of verses speak more than a ten page rant. The residency offered time, space and a digital platform in which to learn this and to incorporate this philosophy into my working practise.” – Shey Hargreaves, previous 1215.today poet-in-residence.

Goals and outcomes of residency:

• To interact with the 1215.today team and community, galvanising opinion and providing valuable input
• Bring your interest in and perspective of the meaning of Magna Carta today to our audiences through your own practice and the work of others
• Encourage participation, discussion and creative activity from our user network
• Create buzz around the site’s activity, both within 1215.today and on wider networks
• Give insights and new perspectives on the creative and practical side of being a poet (touring, research, residencies, getting published, readings, competitions)
• Participate in Q&A’s and other online events
• Take part in 1215.today’s social media activity

Outline of agreed activities:

• Write a short biog / intro / weblinks and provide a pic so we can create a profile for you on 1215.today
• Interview with Cultureshock Media introducing your work
• Daily short form post for 1215.today site and The Poetry School site (5 per week)
• 4 x longer blog posts for 1215.today and The Poetry School site (700-1000 words)
• Lead a social discussion through one of the 1215.today social channels
• Write one or more poems around the subject / in response to social discussion
• Record a reading of your work – may be vine, soundcloud etc to plug into 1215.today and The Poetry School site
• Work with Cultureshock Media to curate a weekly selection of other poets’ work and related articles, images, film and topical current affairs / news content to create a ‘hub’ on 1215.today
• Possible online workshop on CAMPUS

What we are looking for:

1. A poet with an interest in themes relating to Magna Carta including:    liberty, human rights, democracy, the lives of others
2. An ability to convey complex and challenging ideas through your work
3. Experience of working collaboratively
4. Experience of working online
5. Experience of engaging and collaborating with young people through online technology is essential

How to apply:

1. In no more than 500 words please outline why you are interested and how you fit into the ethos of the programme
2. Include weblinks to relevant work
3. Attach a current CV

Please submit to:

Julia Bird, Creative Director, The Poetry School

[email protected]

AND

Greg Morrison, Editor, 1215.today

[email protected]

Schedule:

1. Applications must be submitted by midnight on 3rd March 2017.
2. Poets will be notified by 17th March 2017 whether shortlisted or not
3. Interviews will be conducted via Skype / phone during the week beginning 27 March 2017
4. Appointment of selected poet by 31 March 2017
5. Residency will take place from 24 April – 27 May 2017

Terms and conditions:

A one-off fee of £1000 will be offered to the poet inclusive of expense and VAT. No additional fees will be paid to reproduce the poet’s work online

Four days during the residency dedicated to working with Cultureshock Media who are the researchers and curators for the 1215.today site, preferably on site at Cultureshock Media’s offices in London. 

All articles, poems written by the selected poet should be provided free of any charge and will be made available for sharing worldwide and in perpetuity with no restrictions