Café
Writers are delighted to announce that the winner of
the
2009 Norfolk Commission is
Commission-Winner
Laura Elliott on the Novi Sad Friendship Bridge in Norwich
(Picture by Martin Figura)
Promising
young poet Laura Elliott 21, is £2,500 better off after being announced the
winner of the first Café Writers Norfolk Graduate Commission. Also included in the award is publication
of a poetry pamphlet by Gatehouse Press and the chance to read at Café
Writers and the Poetry-Next-the-Sea festival. Laura’s poetry will
explore the links between Norwich and its Serbian twin city Novi Sad -
represented in the City by the Novi Sad Friendship Bridge; the swing bridge
which links King Street to the Riverside Development across the River Wensum.
The Novi Sad Association have also just awarded her a travel bursary to
help pay for a research trip to Serbia.
Laura, who has just graduated with a
first class degree from the BA in Creative Writing at Norwich University
College of the Arts said: “I am still in shock! but am looking forward to
exploring the relationship between Norwich and Novi Sad, and also exploring
Norwich in more creative depth”.
The standard of entries for the new
award, which is open to writing students at UEA and Norwich School of Art and
Design was pleasingly high and Chris Gribble, Executive Director of Writers’
Centre Norwich, one of four judges commented "Coming to a final decision
was very difficult. In the end the strength of Laura's voice, her obvious
talent and the sheer power and tension she was able to create in her poems
gave her the edge. We're very much looking forward to reading the work that
the commission will enable and are convinced that she's a worthy addition to a
programme that is rapidly developing a reputation for spotting and supporting
the best new writing talent."
The prize established by the
Norwich-based writers network Café Writers, is to encourage an emerging poet
in the difficult early stages of establishing their writing career. Café
Writers supports writers at all stages of their development from beginners
right through to well established names. The Commission Patrons are Kate and
Dominic Christian. Kate, also one of the judges, said: “The Commission
has proved to be an ideal way to celebrate the richness and variety of
Norfolk, while at the same time promoting and supporting at least some of the
many talented poets who are inspired by it. We are very proud to be part of it
all.”
The Commission, in its third year is a strand of Café Writers, which holds
monthly live literature events at Jurnet’s Bar, Wensum Lodge.