Today’s poetry news roundup takes a look at a poet from the Zambia who is fighting for the right to take part in a poetry competition and also the new local currency that will be launched shortly in the Lake District, featuring local artists and poets.
Student Fights to Compete in Poetry Contest
A student from the Zambia who is currently living in the US is currently suing in a bid to be allowed to enter into a poetry competition that is funded by the government.
Allan Monga, who is just 17 years old and a Student in Portland, Maine, was named winner of the
contest last month.
He has put forward an application for asylum within the US but has not yet been offered residency. In effect, this means that he is unable to enter
Arguments from both sides were expected to be heard yesterday in court. The School district and Monga are arguing the National Endowment of the Arts (NEA) are in violation of the equal protection clause in the US constitution by banning the student, whilst the NEA is asking the judge to let the eligibility rules of the organisation stand.
New Local Currency for the Lake District
Yesterday saw the unveiling of the new Lake District pounds (LD£) and artist, poets and painters who all represent the region have been chosen to feature.
The notes will have the same face value as sterling and around 170 shops and businesses in the region will accept them to begin with; there are hopes that this number will grow. The money will be available as £1, £5, £10 and £20 and they will be completely interchangeable with sterling notes. The idea behind this somewhat unusual idea if that some of the many tourists who visit the Lake District every year might take notes home as souvenirs which will help to raise money for the region.
The scheme will is due to launch on 1st May and each year the notes will be resigned to show new designs.
The LD£1 will feature “Fun and Adventure” with an artist’s image of Beatrix Potter when a child,
by Arthur Ransome and a depiction of the stunning Langdale Pikes.
LD£5 will be a celebration of
with Alfred Wainwright the legendary walking guide writer, and images of Innominate Tarn, the place his ashes were scattered as well as a depiction of Skiddaw range.
LD£10 celebrates
with images of Joss Naylor the Wasdale fell runner who broke records, and a view of Wastwater looking towards Great Gable.
LD£20 is
featuring John Ruskin the Victorian artist and thinker, William Wordsworth as well as his sister Dorothy together with a view from Grasmere looking towards Helm Crag. Wordsworth is arguably one of the most famous poets to be linked with the Lake District. He was born in Cockermouth, educated locally and lived in Grasmere where he wrote many of his poems.
415,000 notes have been printed with a total face value of £2.2 million.
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