What's New

You can now watch Marc Atkins and Rod Mengham’s collaborative film and poetry project via the Archive.

The internationally acclaimed poet Lisa Robertson was a distinguished visiting fellow at Queen Mary University of London in October 2012, during which time she gave this extraordinary performance, recorded for the Archive by Jacqui Johnson.

Now added: new readings by James Byrne, Justin Katko and Samantha Walton.

James Byrne is a British poet and Editor of The Wolf magazine whose collections include Blood/Sugar (2009).  His poetry has been translated into several languages, and he has performed in Syria and Serbia, among other places.

Samantha Walton has lived in Edinburgh and London, and in 2012 completed a PhD on psychology, law and selfhood in inter-war women’s writing. In 2011 she co-organised an experimental poetry conference and festival – ConVersify – at the University of Edinburgh and the Scottish Poetry Library.  Her publications include the duplicate book (2012), City Breaks Weekend Songs (2011) and tristanundisolde (2010).

Following an impromptu poetry festival at 73 Cobden Road, Brighton, the Archive is pleased to present readings by:

• Alan Hay
• Ed Luker
• Joe Luna runs the Hi Zero reading series and edits Hi Zero magazine.  Crater Press published the letterpress fold Google Song in 2011; a new book, ASTROTURF, is forthcoming.
• Verity Spott is a musician who runs regular music and poetry events including Horseplay and DYMI/DYMX/DYMII/PW4 as well as the Iodine poetry press. Verity is one half of the infamous Binnsclagg noise/poetry duo; collaborations include works with Christopher Buckley, Francis Crot and Timothy Thornton. Poetry publications include a figurative ‘translation’ of ‘the’ Iliad.
• Keston Sutherland teaches at the University of  Sussex and is co-editor of Barque Press. He has been heard just about live in  London, Cambridge, Brighton, Bolton, Paris, Val de Marne, Marseille, New  York, Boston, Mainz, Edenkoben, Guangzhou.
• Timothy Thornton

Applications should be sent as hard copies to: Dr Andrea Brady, Schoolof Englishand Drama, Queen Mary University of London, Mile End Road, London. E1 4NS.  Application enquiries should be directed to a.brady@qmul.ac.uk.

A confirmation email will be sent acknowledging receipt of all applications.  The deadline for receipt of applications is 1 December 2012.  Interviews will take place at the beginning of January.

 Valuing Diversity & Committed to Equality

‘The Archive demonstrates that the prestige presses and predictable prizes don’t have a monopoly on publication or literary value. The UK has an old and venerable tradition of keeping its most startling, exciting and ground-breaking work on the down-low, in the little magazines and small presses, the reading series in dilapidated pubs and tiny galleries and schools and towers. Over time, these activities become central to what British poetry can be. In recognition of the importance of the public reading, which draws in new audiences and makes new poets, sharpens lines and breaks open complacencies, the Archive is soon to include recordings of important historic reading series from throughout the UK. In that way, the Archive testifies that there are other ways of being a public writer than achieving commercial success. It is one of many places held open by poetry, where we can still hear each other and ourselves.’

Read more about the Archive in an editorial by the Director at the Poetry School.

Some exciting events are afoot at the Archive. For the next eight weeks, the Archive is Now on Penn Sound radio - listen here.  The Archive has also begun to host video – check out these collaborations by Marc Atkins and Rod Mengham.

for a summer’s day, just here – enjoy!

The Archive has just been awarded a small grant from the Centre for Public Engagement, at Queen Mary University of London, to support and develop the site.  Over the coming months, we’ll be expanding our collection with a series of recording sessions which will be open to the public.  We’ll also shortly be announcing a new residency programme and unveiling a set of new tools for using and exploring the Archive.  Check back with us soon!

We’ve just uploaded new recordings by:

Michael Grant
Virginia Firnberg
Peter Finch
Frances Kruk

enjoy!