Artlyst, in association with The Poetry Society, is pleased to launch a new international award for poetry based on works of art. 

From ancient times poets have been inspired by art. Ekphrastic poetry has given us some of the most celebrated poems in the English language from Keats’ ‘Ode on a Grecian Urn’, to WH Auden’s ‘Musée des Beaux-Arts’, based on Brueghel’s famous painting of Icarus falling from the sky. In each case, what has been created is not a mere description but a fresh insight, a new world, an autonomous work of art.

The Artlyst Art to Poetry Award celebrating ekphrastic poetry is open to all poets worldwide aged 18 or over. Entrants may submit as many poems as they wish so long as they are based on an artwork. This can be in the form of a painting, sculpture installation, video, or fine art photograph.

The competition’s judging panel will include poet, novelist, and art critic Sue Hubbard, and judges from Artlyst and The Poetry Society. There are awards of £1,000, £300 and three runners-up prizes of £50.  All winners will be invited to an awards ceremony at a London art gallery and be published on Artlyst and The Poetry Society websites.