Poetry by Heart

As I work for NAWE (the National Association of Writers in Education), my focus is often on the overarching issues faced by those involved in Creative Writing. NAWE is the UK subject association that aims to further knowledge, understanding and enjoyment of Creative Writing and to support good practice in its teaching and learning at all levels. Much of what the organization does, for its 1500 members and the wider community, involves a familiar program of publications and events. Here, by contrast, I am writing about a specific new venture, that of ‘Poetry by Heart’, an initiative of the Poetry Archive (see www.poetrybyheart.org.uk). Led by Sir Andrew Motion, the project involves a national recitation competition for students aged 14–18. After a successful first year in 2013, it has government funding for a further two years, with the aim of re-establishing poetry memorization and recitation in schools.