After a successful launch in 2024, the Poetry Trail is returning to the Art Trail, promising more steps, stanzas, and a sensational selection of poetry. Kirkstall Art Trail takes place on Saturday 19 July and Sunday 20 July 2025.
The original trail featured twenty-four poems on lampposts, fences, and other street furniture; our aim for 2025 is to double the number of entries and cover more ground.
Interactive trail map
There will be an online poetry trail map for visitors to follow as they make their way around Kirkstall. The map and the poems will remain up past the weekend event.
This is the legacy aspect of Kirkstall Art Trail; the poems will be up far longer than the KAT letters stand.
Maybe you have a poem about terrace houses or football terraces, prose about maintaining human rights for all, or a sonnet about mashed potatoes. Ideally, it is one poem submitted per writer, however, please get in touch if you have a specific idea involving more than one poem.
There will also be an opportunity to read your poem and take part in our spoken word event on Saturday 19 July 2025. Details to follow.
How to get involved
Getting involved is easy! Fill out the form and submit your poem.
- Entry is free.
- Your poem should be no more than 35 lines long using Arial in 14pt, including line spaces. Your name and the title of the poem do not count towards this total.
- You can see a visual layout example of this at the bottom of this page. Along with the page format details, and the option to download a preformatted document.
- The map will include a short biography and a link to your online platforms.
- While there is no theme, remember the poetry will be on display to all members of the public.
- One poem per writer.
- Similar to the main Art Trail, the Poetry Trail is not a competition.
Deadline
Your poem should be submitted before 22 June.
Application Form
Terms and Conditions
- You must submit your poem before the deadline on 22 June 2025.
- By submitting your poem, you enter into an agreement that:
- it can be used for the purpose of the Poetry Trail.
- we can use it for relevant promotional purposes.
- without payment to you.
- without seeking your further approval.
- The promotions may include the use of your poem on the internet. We may store the poem in a digital format for this purpose.
- By agreeing, you are granting us a non-exclusive copyright license.
- By submitting your poem, you consent to Kirkstall Art Trail processing your personal data for the purpose of the Poetry Trail and as described in the Privacy Policy.
- The poem must be an original composition written by you.
- You must make sure that your work does not and will not infringe on any other copyright.
- You must make sure that no information contained in your work is untruthful or harmful.
- The Poetry Trail is free to enter.
- The Poetry Trail is open to all ages. However if you are under 18, you must have parental consent for your entry into the Poetry Trail and to these Terms and Conditions.
- Only one entry per person, unless agreed otherwise with Kirkstall Art Trail.
- The Poetry Trail is not a competition, and submissions will not be judged as such.
- Selection is made at the organisers’ discretion.
Layout example
A poetry trail document has been set up that you can access via Google Drive. Please note, this file will open as ‘view only’ and you will need to save your own copy to edit.
Page format details:
35 lines (including line spaces)
Arial 14 pt
Line spacing 1.15 pt
Margins 2.54 cm
