VERVE Festival call for emerging experimental works

As part of their 2026 festival programme, VERVE Poetry Festival are launching WORK IN POETRY — an open call for emerging experimental works in live poetry and spoken word. They are seeking poets, performers and artists working in and around poetry who are developing:

• * Scratch performances or works-in-progress
• * Experimental or interdisciplinary approaches
• * Performance poetry that incorporates sound, movement, visuals, digital media, or audience interaction
• * Projects that are part of a DYCP or other development process
• * New voices pushing the boundaries of poetry on stage
• * Old voices with new material.​
• VERVE are offering a professionally produced slot at VERVE Poetry Festival 2026, with basic technical support and rehearsal time and a £300 fee per performance.

The scratch event will be on Friday 13th February 2026, 2.30-5pm, at Birmingham Hippodrome.

For further information and to submit a proposal, see the VERVE Poetry Festival website.