📢 Become the Next Bard
of Exeter! ✍️🎤

Did you know Exeter is one of the few cities with the ancient right to appoint a Bard?

The Bard of Exeter represents the land & people of Exeter and surrounding areas for a year & a day, with a bunch of perks plus some fancy blue robes chucked in! This year, supported by Exeter Library, Exeter UNESCO City of Literature, Taking the Mic and Spork! Poetry.

The Bardic role is a chance for you to make your mark on the city. Previous Bards have gone on to win national slams, become the Poet Laureate for Exeter City FC, and present poetry internationally at COP26 (to name just a few achievements!)

Any poet, singer, storyteller, rapper, or wordsmith aged 16+ and from Devon can compete, with the winner chosen by public vote on Wed 28th May at the Bardic Competition.

HOW TO APPLY

To apply, please email Ceri on ceribakerflow@gmail.com with:

  • Your location

  • Your age

  • A very short summary about why you’d like to be the Bard (no more than 50 words)

The Bard will then be chosen by public vote at the Bardic Comp

THE COMP

We will endeavour to put forward all applicants into the Bardic Competition which will take place at Exeter Library on Wed 28 May, from 7pm. However, spaces are limited to 8 Bardic Hopefuls, so in the event of more than 8 people applying, we will create a shortlist of candidates!

Please apply by 5pm on Monday 5th May. Those going forward into the comp will be announced on Fri 9th May. We will let all applicants know by Wed 7th May.

At the comp, you’ll present a Bardic “Manifesto” and combined live reading or performance that highlights your skills as a writer, orator and performer, as well as your objectives for the year, and what you might do with the role. You’ll have 8 minutes total to present.

PERKS:

  1. The Bardic Robe & Bardic Seat

  2. Support from current bard Ceri Baker including a handover meeting

  3. A featured Project page on the Exeter UNESCO City of Literature website, and use of City of Literature branding

  4. Free tickets to any upcoming Spork! Poetry event

  5. 10 hours of free in-kind space from Exeter Library to support things like meetings, writing space, rehearsals, or workshops

  6. A paid feature set at an upcoming Taking the Mic event at Exeter Phoenix