We are delighted to announce the appointment of Amy Juliet Brown as our new Festival Manager. Amy will be working alongside Artistic Director, Clare Pollard, and the board of Trustees to produce a vibrant and exciting festival of poetry in Winchester this October, and to manage our hugely popular Winchester Poetry Prize.
Amy Brown has worked within the events industry for over 20 years producing and managing cultural events across the UK and Europe. Amy established Wire Wool Events in 2017 bringing women speakers to Hampshire - her speakers have included Helen Pankhurst CBE, Dr Emma Rees and Dr Shola Mos-Shogbamimu. Prior to joining the team here at Winchester Poetry Festival she has worked with community organisations to develop their events programme, including radical bookseller October Books.
Amy has been involved with Winchester Poetry Festival as part of the volunteer team since 2016, and as Digital Assistant from 2021 producing and managing our online and hybrid events.
‘I have long admired Winchester Poetry Festival’s dedication to performance poetry and I am truly excited to be manifesting a dynamic programme of poets, poetry and events in the post-pandemic landscape. Whether you’re a poetry nerd, or not quite sure what it’s all about, Winchester Poetry Festival has a history of creating a welcoming space for all to enjoy the power of words. Poetry can move you, challenge you, reflect your own experiences and shine a light on something entirely new. We can’t wait to share all of this with you this year!’ - Amy Juliet Brown
Artistic Director for Winchester Poetry Festival, poet Clare Pollard said:
'I'm so pleased to be working with Amy on 2023's Winchester Poetry Festival, given her reputation for putting on memorable and thought-provoking live events, and her deep, embedded knowledge of local writers, venues and communities. Together we're going to bring new ideas to the festival, whilst also honouring what makes it so special.'
Chair of Trustees of Winchester Poetry Festival, Jane Bryant, said:
‘Amy has a wealth of experience to bring to this role. Winchester Poetry Festival is very much looking forward to working with her.’
Winchester Poetry Festival is a biennial three-day festival established in 2014, which attracts local, national, and international audiences and poets. 2023 will be the first full festival since the Covid pandemic restrictions.