Syntax Poetry is pleased to announce 13 one-day ‘flash’ residency opportunities for poets / spoken word performers as part of our ‘Ritual’ programme which is a year long project examining what rituals we have lost in the last year, grief and being at the mercy of powers that are outside of ourselves and what can we do now to heal ourselves and our communities.
Rituals are defined by these terms in the dictionary, the established form for a ceremony, specifically the order of words prescribed for a ceremony, a ritual observance. These are types of rituals, funerals, weddings, baby showers, festivals and wearing things for luck, or the thing we always like to do on repeat that makes life better, eg. We always have fish and chips on a Friday/ every Saturday I meet my friends for coffee in Queensgate.
What ritual have you missed in Lockdown, and are you re-establishing it at the moment? Or has it gone for good?
Apply to be one of our flash residencies to explore what ritual means to you, and to help us bring the poetry community in Peterborough back together after a long time apart.
What is a Flash residency?
It’s a chance for a poet or spoken word artist to be resident in a venue of their choice for a day, (Peterborough Based) this can be anywhere from a tattoo parlour, coffee shop, community centre, chicken shop, mosque, ice-rink etc. The more diverse and less arts based the options the better as Syntax believes in taking poetry and spoken word to diverse audiences with the idea that great poetry and good stories are everywhere, just waiting to be captured. The poets who are successful will self nominate the venue, so if you have always wanted to take over your local corner shop this is a commission for you. On that one day residency, the poet would create new written / performative work. Please visit Syntax’s website to see previous flash residencies here.
The residencies will take place between September and December 2021, and the work produced as part of these residencies will also feature in a zine that culminates the whole project in January 2022. There will be a launch event for the Zine in April 2022 and there will be a chance for live performances of the poems at this event.
Residency Fee:
- Each residency artist will receive a fee of £400.
Please note that there isn’t a production or accommodation budget linked to this residency
Who can apply for a residency?
The residency programme is open to Poets or Spoken Word performers:
– who live or work in Peterborough
– who are passionate about engaging with the public and engaging new and diverse audiences in poetry
– who produce high quality that is engaging to a diverse audience
– Poets or writers at any point in their career
Process and timescale for applications
- Details of residency made public: 3rd August 2021
- Deadline for applications: Monday 23rd August at 5pm
- Shortlisting: End of August
- Confirmation of residencies: End of August
- Residency period: September to December
How to apply
We recommend downloading the residency brief below and thinking about where you might like to be ‘poet in residence’ before applying.
Once you’re ready to apply, click the button below to access our Jotform application. If you have any questions or any technical issues, email poetrysyntax@gmail.com
Syntax Poetry Festival 