Helen Mort has been appointed as the first poet laureate of the Kendal Mountain Festival, a position she described as making her "absolutely thrilled." Mort, a poet and novelist with a strong connection to the festival, has been involved for several years and expressed her excitement upon learning of her selection, stating she did a
"little jump for joy." The Kendal Mountain Festival, which has been celebrating the arts and outdoor culture since 1980, is complemented by a concurrent book festival that is marking its 10th anniversary this year.
In her role as poet laureate, Mort will be responsible for creating and organizing events for the book festival, writing a festival poem, and overseeing the inaugural children’s poetry competition for schools in north-west England.
This competition will focus on themes related to mountains, nature, wildlife, and the outdoors, aiming to inspire young poets in the region.
Mort expressed particular enthusiasm for the schools poetry competition, reflecting on her own journey as a poet.
She noted, "It was through competitions for young people that I first got recognised as a poet when I was at school." She emphasized how such initiatives helped her gain confidence and recognition, which significantly influenced her career path.
Mort began writing at a young age, and she believes that the engagement from published writers during her formative years was pivotal in shaping her future.
Paul Scully, the director of the book festival, highlighted the festival's commitment to integrating poetry into its programming.
He remarked, "Over the years we’ve had the odd bit of poetry, but we really want to bring poetry back into the festival to sit alongside all our non-fiction and bits of fiction as well." Scully praised Mort's long-standing contributions, stating, "Helen has been an integral member of the festival, sharing her talent, creativity,
and excellence in creative writing and poetry for many years." Mort's appointment as the first poet laureate marks a significant step in enhancing the festival's literary offerings.
