Staffordshire is launching 'Staffy's Tales', a creative-writing competition inviting people of all ages to bring its famous Staffy sculptures to life. Writers can choose their favourite sculpture from the art and heritage trail and tell its story through poetry, short stories or six powerful words. Entries must be no more than 250 words and close at 5pm on Wednesday 8 July.
The competition, judged by local artist Chloe Breeze and Staffordshire's Young Poet Laureate Pearl Knight-Dutton, asks writers to imagine what their chosen Staffy has witnessed during a day. Participants should consider who has visited the sculpture, what makes Stoke special, and what adventures have unfolded around it. A winner will be crowned for each of the eleven sculptures on the trail.
The top prize is a free family day out, with winning entries showcased on the Visit Staffordshire website. The Staffy trail has already proven popular across Stoke and beyond, attracting over 6,000 visitors and generating an estimated £180,000 for the local economy since launch.
To enter Staffy's Tales, submit your creative writing to [email protected] before the 8 July deadline. Whether you're a seasoned writer or picking up a pen for the first time, this competition offers a chance to celebrate Stoke's cultural heritage and artistic community while competing for a family prize.