Brussels2030 and the Brussels Region are launching the search for the capital's first city poet on Saturday. ‘Public Poet Brussels’ was presented at the Brussels Parliament during the Brussels Day of Multilingualism.
The region and Brussels2030, which aims to make Brussels the European Capital of Culture in 2030, are addressing an open call to all Brussels poets, who can submit their project until 23 November.
A jury of experts and representatives from the Brussels media and culture sector will then select up to five finalists. They will present their project at Pianofabriek on 7 December, after which the people of Brussels can vote until 31 December.
On 15 January 2024, the winner will be announced, who will become the city poet from 21 March 2024 (World Poetry Day) to 20 March 2026.
The Public Poet Brussels is expected to write a total of 19 poems that respond to Brussels’ reality. “They have full artistic freedom and freedom of expression, connect with the public in the Region by going public and bring poetry into the limelight in an appealing and accessible way,” it also sounds.
“A city poet offers the opportunity to share poetry, which reflects the identity of the city, with a wider audience,” says Sven Gatz, Brussels Minister Responsible for Promoting Multilingualism, stressing that “the rich linguistic diversity of Brussels will have an important place in this project.”
“The aim is for the future poet to put Brussels, with its distinctive diversity, way of life and rich culture, in the spotlight by reciting, slamming or rapping about it,” Brussels Minister-President Rudi Vervoort also says. “They will thus help boost the image of our region at home and abroad.”
Several cities in Flanders are already home to city poets, but the concept had not yet made its way to Brussels. However, earlier this year, it was announced that Brussels will have a collective of urban poets as soon as from 2024.
