Steven Beattie has been appointed as Stoke-on-Trent's new Poet Laureate, officially taking over the role at a handover event held at Stoke-on-Trent City Archives. He replaces outgoing laureate Nick Degg and brings a fresh approach to poetry in the city, describing himself as an "outlaw poet" who challenges traditional ideas about what poetry should be.
Beattie, who works as an Assistant Theatre Practitioner at the Royal Stoke University Hospital, turned to poetry during the pandemic as a way of managing anxiety. His work celebrates local landmarks, dialect and everyday life across Stoke, making it deeply rooted in the community he represents.
The new Stoke Poet Laureate is determined to make poetry accessible to everyone during his tenure. "Poetry should be for all," Beattie said. "It's a powerful way to express emotion, to tell your story, and to make sense of who you are and how you view the world."
The appointment is part of the 100 Bookshelf project, which celebrates a century of writing in Stoke-on-Trent and North Staffordshire. Alongside Beattie's appointment, Cameron Hart-Fenton has been named inaugural Young Poet Laureate, and award-winning local author Kate Leake becomes the city's first Creativity Laureate.
These new roles mark an important moment for Stoke's cultural landscape, with a focus on democratising poetry and supporting emerging local talent across the city.