This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Live poets in St Andrews
20/03/2003
StAnza, Scotland's annual poetry festival held at St
Andrews, began today.
Deputy Culture Minister Dr Elaine Murray said that the
Executive's National Cultural Strategy recognised the
fundamental importance of writing and writers.
StAnza is the only regular festival dedicated to poetry
in Scotland, and has an international outlook, bringing the
best in Scottish poets from home and abroad. It moves this
year to become a Spring festival instead of its previous
October date.
StAnza features lectures, discussions, music and
exhibitions as well as an increasingly strong educational
and workshop programmes.
Dr Murray said:
"StAnza is increasingly important in enabling Scottish
writers to access a wider and ever more receptive audience
at home and abroad.
"This year's theme of 'Poetry and the Garden' reflects
this season and the growth and blossoming of poetry in
Scotland.
"StAnza is fast becoming Scotland's poetry pacemaker,
sending its energy pulsing into our cultural
bloodstream."
The StAnza organisation was founded in 1997 by three St
Andrews-based poets, and the first StAnza Poetry Festival
took place in 1998.
The
Scottish Arts
Council sponsors the festival with £10,000 for the past
three years and intends to increase this significantly in
view of the changes and enhancements to the programme.