To be a National Poet is an incredible achievement. The poet is not only chosen for the excellence of their poetic calibre, but also for their work to support and promote poetry as a living, breathing artform across the country.
The Scots Makar, Kathleen Jamie, was appointed in 2021, following the end of Jackie Kay’s Makarship. With a long, varied, and celebrated career both behind and ahead of her, Jamie is a poet and essayist very much concerned with the natural world.
Hanan Issa is the first ever Muslim Welsh Laureate, freshly appointed in the summer of 2022. She’s been a champion for poetry in its many forms: spoken word, as expressions of identity, and a tool to bring people together. The two poets come together on Push the Boat Out’s stage to share their work, experiences of being a National Poet, and plans for the rest of their tenure.