To commemorate the 40th anniversary of the Miners’ Strike, The Poetry Business is collaborating with poet Sarah Wimbush and the National Coal Mining Museum for England to publish an anthology. This collection will feature poems, prose, and photographs that reflect the events leading up to the strike, the strike itself, and its aftermath.
The anthology includes contributions from renowned poets such as Simon Armitage, Liz Berry, Gillian Clarke, Ian McMillan, and Helen Mort. It also showcases emerging and younger poets addressing the impact of pit closures on affected communities. The collection features powerful photographs by John Harris, Keith Pattison, and Brenda Prince, who documented significant moments from the strike.
In 2024, The Poetry Business and the National Coal Mining Museum for England hosted workshops with various poets from Northern England and Wales. These workshops encouraged participants nationwide to create their own responses to the anniversary. Selected works from these workshops will also be featured in the anthology.
An expanded online version of the COAL anthology is set to launch in 2025. This version will include additional poems and reflections on this important chapter of British history and its ongoing influence.
Related Topics