Kendal Mountain FestivalA celebrated poet and novelist has expressed her profound delight at being appointed the inaugural poet laureate for a venerable mountain festival.
Helen Mort, a long-standing participant in the festival’s activities, described her reaction to the news as a “little jump for joy,” acknowledging the significance of becoming the first laureate at the Kendal Mountain Festival.
The festival, a fixture in the cultural calendar, has been running since 1980. In parallel, its accompanying book festival is marking its 10th anniversary.
In her new capacity as poet laureate, Mort is set to curate and orchestrate events within the book festival. She will also be responsible for composing a dedicated festival poem and launching the inaugural children’s poetry competition, which will engage schools across north-west England with themes of mountains, nature, wildlife, and the great outdoors.
“Kendal is my favourite festival,” Mort stated, recalling her 2022 win of the prestigious Boardman Tasker award for mountain literature.
“It represents a remarkable dedication to the arts, particularly mountain arts, which I find to be an exceptionally important and notably rare aspect of programming today.”
Mort highlighted her particular enthusiasm for the schools poetry competition, reflecting on how similar initiatives were instrumental in fostering her own confidence as a young writer.
“It was through competitions for young people that I first gained recognition as a poet during my school years,” she shared.
“My writing journey began at a very young age, and receiving that validation and engagement fundamentally altered the trajectory of my life. The idea that established, published writers were taking my work seriously was profoundly impactful.”
Paul Scully, the director of the Kendal Mountain Festival’s book festival, commented on the new appointment: “While we’ve occasionally featured poetry over the years, our ambition is to re-establish its presence within the festival, allowing it to complement our extensive offerings of non-fiction and fiction.”
“Helen has been an indispensable part of the festival for many years, consistently contributing her talent, creativity, and expertise in creative writing and poetry.”
Kendal Mountain Festival’s New Laureate Inspires Youth Engagement
The appointment of Helen Mort as the inaugural poet laureate for the Kendal Mountain Festival underscores a strategic effort to deepen the integration of literary arts, particularly poetry, into the festival’s core programming. Mort’s role, which includes developing programming and creating a new children’s competition, signals a commitment to nurturing emerging talent and connecting a younger demographic with the festival’s ethos and the broader themes of nature and exploration.
This initiative reflects a growing trend in cultural events to foster direct audience engagement and cultivate creative expression. For brands and businesses, understanding such cultural shifts is crucial for developing authentic connections. Supporting or aligning with events that champion artistic development and community involvement can enhance brand perception and resonate with increasingly conscious consumer bases.
Business Style Takeaway: The appointment of a poet laureate at a long-standing mountain festival highlights the increasing value placed on narrative and creative expression within traditionally non-arts-focused events. For global businesses, embracing and supporting cultural initiatives that foster creativity and community engagement can significantly enhance brand resonance and forge deeper connections with diverse audiences.
Source: : www.bbc.com