Poetry on the Lake, the only poetry festival in a guide book to Italy.
11th Celebration 23-25 September 2011 HERE
Latest: 12th International Poetry Competition opens 1st November 2011.
Adjudicators: Gillian Clarke, Carole Baldock, Christopher North.
Awards at autumn celebration 2012, prizes donated by Alessi.
Past adjudicators:
Al Alvarez, Kevin Bailey, Massimo Bocchiolo, John F. Deane, Carol Ann Duffy, James Harpur, John Hartley Williams, Brian Patten, Don Paterson, Jo Shapcott, Penelope Shuttle, Michael Swan, D.M.Thomas.
Patron of POTL is Carol Ann Duffy, poet laureate UK, who described it on the South Bank Show, ITV, 6 December 2009 as:
"...perhaps the smallest but possibly the most perfect poetry festival in the world".
Poetry readings, workshops, discussions, poetry and dance and music take place all over the lake area: on the island, in the square, on Sacro Monte, in the woods, around the chapels, in the old palaces, on board ship ('una barca di poeti'- una crociera poetica, october 2010), at Omegna, Orta, Varallo, Invorio, Ameno - poetry has become dynamic!
Founded in 2001 by Gabriel Griffin, the seat is on Isola San Giulio, the antique island on Lake Orta, northern Italy. Annual events include the spring international competition and the autumn celebration. Poetry on the Lake edits numerous anthologies and a journal.
Gabriel is now judging TRYangle poetry competition in aid of victims of domestic violence
info at Eastern Light .
We are accepting orders for ANTHOLOGY 2011 'Stone', anthology of prized and commended poems selected by Don Paterson from entries to the 11th competition, see here
Poetry on the Lake has much prestige but extremely little funding so:
why not sponsor our events? Your logo and news on flyers, posters, press releases and this website would reach a public of thousands.
Donations very welcome! Culture is at the bottom of the list for funding in 2012 and Poetry on the Lake is in crisis, falling between two stools - British orgs won't fund because we are in Italy, Italians hesitate because the events are mainly (but not only) in English.
contact or donate
© copyright Gabriel Griffin-Hall
updated 10th November 2011
counter added 30th June 2010
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