Bloom Poetry Competition

Exeter Phoenix are delighted to announce the very first Bloom Poetry Competition. This inaugural competition is taking place as part of Bloom – our virtual festival celebrating Mental Health Awareness Week.

The theme for Mental Health Awareness Week 2021 is nature and the environment and we invite your poems on this theme. Poems may also touch on themes of mental health and wellbeing, but they do not need to. The competition is free to enter and open to all.

Whatever your rhyme or reason for writing poetry, we look forward to reading your entries!

Categories and judges

Two categories are open for entries. One winner will be announced per category.

• Bloom Junior Poetry Competition (for ages 17 and under)
• Bloom Poetry Competition (for ages 18 and over)

Our judges for the competition will be Exeter Phoenix’s resident poetry enthusiast Anna-Ruth Peel-Cusson and Spork!’s Chris White.

Winners and Prizes

One winner will be announced for each category. A highly commended shortlist may also be shared. The winning poem for each category will receive:

• An original illustration inspired by your poem
• Your poem published on Exeter Phoenix’s website
• A pair of theatre tickets
• A pair of cinema tickets

Bloom Poetry Competition details

• Maximum length: 50 lines. Titles, dedications and lines between stanzas are not included in the line count.
• Poems can be traditional or experimental in form
• There is no entry fee – participation is free
• You may enter multiple poems per person if you wish

How To Enter

The competition is free to enter and open to everybody. You can enter online by filling in the online form below.

Due to the high volume of entries already received, the revised deadline for submissions is Fri 7 May 2021.

If you would prefer to enter by post, please send your entries to:

Bloom Poetry Competition
FAO Anna-Ruth Peel-Cusson
Exeter Phoenix
Bradninch Place
Exeter
EX4 3LS