The League of Canadian Poets (LCP) sat down to express who they are, what they stand for, and what their goals are and this is what they had to say:
What is the League of Canadian Poets (LCP)?
The LCP is a non-profit arts service organization with a mission to enhance the status of poets, nurture a professional poetic community and facilitate the teaching of Canadian poetry at all levels of education.
How did the LCP originate?
The LCP was founded in 1966 by a group of five poets to enhance the status of poets and to nurture a professional poetic community, to facilitate the teaching of Canadian poetry at all levels of education. The League currently serves some 700 members whose work reflects the regional and cultural diversity of Canada.
Why is the LCP needed?
The LCP develops the audience for poetry by encouraging publication, performance and recognition of Canadian poetry nationally and internationally.
What does the LCP do today?
The LCP speaks for poets on many issues such as freedom of expression, Public Lending Rights, Access Copyright, contract advice and grievances. Through its monthly newsletter, the LCP keeps members informed of matters, both political and professional, and provides a common voice for collective response to important issues.
What programs and projects does the LCP provide?
We have a variety of programs including:
- National Poetry Month, the website and e-zine, poetry awards, promotion of Canadian poetry books that children, students, teachers, librarians and people across Canada have come to depend on each year
- Making National Poetry Month a growing success in Canada
- Supporting hundreds of events year-round across the country
- Offering the Jessamy Stursberg Poetry Contest for Youth
- Continuing with educational programming for teachers and students on our website
- Presenting annual poetry awards and helping to recognize excellence in poetry
What is National Poetry Month (NPM)?
National Poetry Month has been established by the LCP as a month-long, national celebration of poetry. The LCP’s National Poetry Month initiative is to bring together schools, publishers, booksellers, literary organizations, libraries, and poets across the country to celebrate poetry and its vital place in Canada's culture. Communities and businesses participate through readings, festivals, book displays, and other events.
Who designated National Poetry Month?
The League of Canadian Poets has led this program in Canada from its inception in 1998 and, over time, adopted affiliates with government agencies and official, educational leaders, publishers, sponsors, poets, and arts organizations.
What are the goals of National Poetry Month?
The goals of NPM are to:
- Preserve and support the endurance of dedicated Canadian poets
- Promote the pleasures of reading poetry to more Canadians
- Highlight the importance of poetry as part of the school curriculum
- Increase the attention paid to poetry by local and national media
- Encourage increased publication, distribution, and sales of poetry books
- Bringing poets and poetry to the public in efficient and effective ways
- Increase public and private philanthropic support for poets and poetry
How does the LCP celebrate National Poetry Month?
The LCP creates and distributes its official NPM posters, which are mailed free to teachers, librarians, booksellers and members across Canada.
They present special events and readings across Canada in April and include Ontario’s Poets in the School's Program during Young Poets Week.
The LCP also mails press releases, media kits and posters each year to editors and journalists across the country. To ensure that Poetry gains national attention in the media each April, articles generated about NPM appear in newspapers, magazines, and online media outlets.
Lastly, the LCP offers a variety of practical resources for celebrating NPM including tips for teaching poetry, bringing a poet into the classroom during April and presenting a poetry reading or contest amongst many other initiatives.
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