PRESS RELEASE 21ST MAY 2018
The Literary Consultancy (TLC) is excited to announce the establishment of the Rebecca Swift Foundation, an independent grant-making foundation set up in memory of Rebecca Swift. A much-loved editor, novelist, diarist, and poet, Rebecca was the founder of TLC, working for over two decades as its director from its creation in 1996 until her early death in April last year.
Overseen by a board of Trustees who held Rebecca dear, with the support of Project Manager Victoria Adukwei Bulley, the formation of the Rebecca Swift Foundation also arrives with the creation of a new poetry award and mentorship programme the Women Poets’ Prize.
As a biennial award, the Women Poets’ Prize will seek to honour Rebecca’s two key passions: poetry and the empowerment of women. The Prize will offer three female-identifying poets a programme of support and creative professional development opportunities in collaboration with seven partner organisations: Faber and Faber, Bath Spa University, The Literary Consultancy, RADA, City Lit, Verve Festival, and The Poetry School.
Each winner of the Women Poets’ Prize will be carefully matched with a poetry mentor in addition to a pastoral coach, facilitating a body of support that will nurture craft and wellbeing in equal measure. The three winners will also each receive a monetary award of £1,000.
The Foundation and the Women Poets’ Prize will be announced formally at the Second Home Poetry Festival on Saturday 9th June.
Applications for the Women Poets’ Prize will open on 9th June 2018. The Rebecca Swift Foundation is keen for poets at all career stages to apply, with a particular eye for applications from individuals who do not usually consider applying for prizes. A shortlist will be announced in Autumn 2018.
The Rebecca Swift Foundation is a UK registered charity, charity number 1177863.
www.rebeccaswiftfoundation.org
For all media enquiries please contact Fiona McMorrough and Daniel Kramb at FMcM Associates on 0207 405 7422 or ,
