Poet Call Out: Barz And Stanzas Soundscaped
Closing Date: Saturday 31 January 2026
Eligibility: Entrants must work, study or live in Newham and be 18 or over.
Organisation: Newham Poetry Prize
Contact email: newhampoetryprize@gmail.com
Poets, lyricists, and writers from Newham are invited to submit their work for BASS (Barz And Stanzas Soundscaped).
BASS is a new creative archive from the team at Newham Poetry Prize that will set selected poems and lyrics to original music. This initiative celebrates the borough’s diverse voices and preserves local stories through sound.
Who can enter?
Must be 18+
Must live, work, or study in Newham
Deadline: 31 January 2026
Learn more about BASS on their dedicated Project Page.
Support
The team will be hosting free workshops offering a rare opportunity for participants to develop their craft with leading creatives from the borough Newham Poetry Prize founder Be Manzini and award-winning local music makers Eklipse and Shadé Joseph. The day is designed to support residents prepare their submissions for BASS but is also open for anyone to attend, poets and non-poets alike.
Writing & Editing Mastery with Be Manzini
Time: 12–2pm // Location: Room EB.1.44, UEL Docklands CampusPerformance & Recording Techniques Workshop with Eklipse
Time: 2.30–4.30pm // Location: Room EB.1.45, UEL Docklands CampusSound & Words: Exploring Poetry and Music with Shadé Joseph:
Time: 5–7pm // Location: Room EB.1.46, UEL Docklands Campus
Follow on Instagram for updates @newhampoetryprize and contact newhampoetryprize@gmail.com with questions.
“Having travelled across London, the country and the world with my art and facilitation skills this project feels like a homecoming. Newham is the place I grew up in and have chosen to return to. This borough has such vibrancy and uniqueness; we are hoping that this will be reflected in the poems that are entered into the competition.”
About the Newham Poetry Prize
The Newham Poetry Prize is a newly established competition for those who live, study or work in Newham. Encouraging aspiring and seasoned writers alike to submit a single authored poem that references the borough.
Judges have included award-winning writers Courttia Newland and Newham Poetry Prize founder Be Manzini who are passionate about encouraging more writing activity in their local borough and beyond.