JULIA BIRD is set to become Poet in the City’s first Executive Director.
Assuming the role mid-August, she succeeds CEO ISOBEL COLCHESTER, who steps down after a decade at the helm.
Bird is a cultural programmer specialising in contemporary poetry. She was Creative Director and Head of Programmes at the Poetry School, where she created a curriculum of courses and workshops to develop poets’ craft and skills.
Currently, she works at The Poetry Society as Learning & Participation Manager. Here she manages the education team to devise public engagement projects for adults and young people.
Through her production company Jaybird Live Literature, Bird devises and tours poetry shows to theatres and festivals in the UK. She is the author of four poetry collections.
“I see Poet in the City as a cultural space where our audiences, artists and team develop their thoughts, knowledge and actions together through deep engagement with the language,” Bird said.
“I can’t wait to start collaborating to build intriguing, change-making programmes to serve poetry's many communities.”
Chair of the Board LENNIE GOODINGS commented: “Julia is a nationally recognised and experienced leader in the poetry sector.
"The team is poised for greatness and we believe, in Julia Bird, we have a brilliant leader and an experienced and visionary Director who will take our ambitious poetry charity to an exciting new phase."