Hannah Lowe, whose poetry explores the themes of family, multiculturalism, heritage, and London – as well as her Chinese-Jamaican lineage – has been appointed the next Poet-in-Residence at Keats House.

Lowe, who lectures in Creative Writing at Brunel University, will take over the one-year position next month, and will create new work about ‘neighbours’ during her residency at the City of London Corporation-owned House. She will also perform at a series of public events, lead poetry workshops, and work with students in local schools.

Previous Poets-in-Residence at the poet’s home in Hampstead from 1818 to 1820, include former Children’s Laureate Michael Rosen, Benjamin Zephaniah, Jo Shapcott and Daljit Nagra.

Hannah Lowe’s first poetry collection, Chick, won the Michael Murphy Memorial Award for Best First Collection and was shortlisted for the Forward, Aldeburgh and Seamus Heaney Best First Collection Prizes. In September 2014, she was named as one of 20 Next Generation poets. She has also published three chapbooks, and a memoir, Long Time No See, which featured as a Radio 4 Book of the Week. Her latest poetry collection is Chan. 

Graham Packham, Chairman of the City of London Corporation’s Culture, Heritage and Libraries Committee, said:

“Keats House is one of the jewels in the City of London Corporation’s crown and my colleagues and I hope that Hannah will enjoy working as its new Poet-in-Residence. Her expertise and ability to draw upon a wide range of themes will certainly stand her in good stead during her residency.”

Vicky Carroll, Principal Curator at Keats House, said:

“I am looking forward to welcoming Hannah to Keats House, and to discussing our ideas about the year ahead. There is so much to enjoy about working as one of our Poets-in-Residence, not least, the chance to perform in this beautiful house where John wrote some of his best-loved work nearly 200 years ago, and to enthuse people about the love of poetry.”

The City of London Corporation, which owns and manages Keats House, invests over £80m every year in heritage and cultural activities of all kinds. It is the UK’s largest funder of culture after the government, the BBC, and the Heritage Lottery Fund.

ENDS

Notes for Editors:

For more information, please contact:

Andrew Buckingham, Media Officer, City of London Corporation

Tel: 020 7332 1452 / Mobile: 07795 333060 / Email andrew.buckingham@cityoflondon.gov.uk

ABOUT KEATS HOUSE:

Keats House is situated at Keats Grove, Hampstead, London, NW3 2RR. Telephone 020 7332 3868. Email keatshouse@cityoflondon.gov.uk – follow us on Facebook at /keatshousemuseum and on Twitter at @keatshouse / www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/keats

Keats House is closed to the public on Monday and Tuesday. Open from Wednesday to Sunday, 11am - 5pm. Keats House volunteers run guided tours of the House at 3pm. Tours last around 30 minutes and are included in the admission price, subject to availability.

Adults £6.50; seniors £5.50; concessions (students and job seekers) £4.50; children under 17 FREE; National Trust Members £3.25; National Arts Pass holders FREE. Entry to the Keats House Garden FREE.

Keats House, where the poet lived from 1818 to 1820, contains furniture, objects, paintings, prints and drawings from the Keats House collection. Keats House is provided by the City of London Corporation as part of its cultural contribution to London and the nation.

ABOUT THE CITY OF LONDON CORPORATION:

The City of London Corporation provides local government and policing services for the financial and commercial heart of Britain, the 'Square Mile'. In addition, the City Corporation has three roles:

• We support London’s communities by working in partnership with neighbouring boroughs on economic regeneration, education and skills projects. In addition, the City of London Corporation’s charity City Bridge Trust makes grants of around £20 million annually to charitable projects across London and we also support education with three independent schools, three City Academies, a primary school and the world-renowned Guildhall School of Music and Drama.

• We also help look after key London’s heritage and green spaces including Tower Bridge, Museum of London, Barbican Arts Centre, City gardens, Hampstead Heath, Epping Forest, Burnham Beeches, and important ‘commons’ in south London.

• We also support and promote the ‘City’ as a world-leading financial and business hub, with outward and inward business delegations, high-profile civic events and research-driven policies all reflecting a long-term approach.

See www.cityoflondon.gov.uk for more details.