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JIM
BENNETT
Jim was born
and still lives near Liverpool in England. He
grew up in Liverpool during the years of the
Liverpool Sound and the Liverpool Poets and it is
from this tradition that he developed his own
unique style and voice.
He
is the author of 71 books including books of
poetry, books for children, and technical
training manuals. In addition his CD "Down
in Liverpool" a selection of poetry and
music has brought Jim to the notice of a much
wider audience.
In a career
spanning the years since he first performed in 1967 in
Liverpool, Jim has won many accolades for
his performances and writing. Including;
Manchester Slam Winner
Fante Prize
for Literature (New Mexico 2000)
Poetry Super
Highway Poet of the Year 2000.
Sefton
Literary Competition winner.
San Francisco Beat
Poetry Festival Competition, 1st prize and Judges
Choice - October 2002.
His
poetry has been widely published in magazines and
anthologies and he regularly performs at poetry
events and festivals in the UK and USA and he has
been nominated for the Pushcart Award for his
published work in the USA. (as of 2013 he has had a
total of seven nominations)
For many years Jim
rans courses in Creative Writing for the
University of Liverpool, Edge Hill University
College and the Workers Education Association.
In September 2002 Jim was selected to represent
Liverpool at the Bristol City of Culture Slam.
October 2003 opened
'The National Year for Disability in Sport' for
the BBC
DaDaFest Awards 2003 -
see block on left.
In 2006 Jim's artwork based on poetry and
drawings was displayed in the University of Liverpool as part of
the Liverpool Art Biennial.
Jim forced to cut back on teaching and
personal appearances after a series of vehicle collisions left
him unable to travel.
2004
In January 2004 Jim
became the Managing Editor of Poetry Kit
(poetrykit.org) the extensive on-line poetry
resource website.
July 2004 - Performs at
two book launch events 'Remember the Kop' and
'Everton Eighties' for Merseyside Museums to
tremendous acclaim. His poem
"Liverpool Is" selected to be put
on permanent display at Liverpool FC Museum.
In November 2004 Jim
Bennett was asked to read his poetry for the
Royal visit of HRH The Prince Edward to NWDAF
Headquarters, Liverpool.
READING
FOR A ROYAL VISIT - Nov 2004
Susan Hedges - Jim
Bennett - HRH Prince Edward
(photo Leila Romaya)
In December 2004 Jim
won the DaDaFest Individual Performer Award for
the second year in succession.
2005
- An interview with Jim
and a poem appeared in the UK national Newspaper,
The Independent, in April 2005.
In the same month Jim gave a series of open air
readings culminating with a reading in Hope
Street, Liverpool in memory of the victims of
Hillsborough.
September 2005 - A poem for
Birkenhead, Jim appointed Birkenhead's Poet
in Residence to help create a Poem for
Birkenhead. Sponsor five arts cities working
with WEA.
October 2005 -
Jim Bennett and Paul O'Grady
-
Launch
of
A
Poem for Birkenhead
September 2005 - Jim honoured
with the post of Poet in residence for
Liverpool's Historic Waterfront and as visiting
poet for New York's (US) Waterfront. A two year
project to explore the bonds between the two
cities.
December 2005 - Two of Jim's
poems nominated for US top poetry Pushcart
Awards.
January
2006 - Jim voted Poet of the Year 2005
by the readers of Western Literary Magazine, NY
December 2006 -
Jim Receives two further nominations for
US top poetry
Pushcart Awards.
March
2007 - Jim wins award at European Champions Slam, in Brussels.
October 2009 - Jim Reads at PK Poets meeting in Liverpool.
2009
Geoff
Stevens and Jim Bennett at Fly In The Loaf, PK Reading 2009
November 2009 - Jim enters poetry competitions for the
first time in ten years and wins Bidiford Poetry Competition,
and 360 Poetry Competition (New York)
December 2009 - Jim's new collection of Poetry "LARKHILL"
published by Searle Publishing.
Jim
appears as a guest at Bank America in an event for National
Adoption Week.
February 2010 - "LARKHILL" nominated for the Ted Hughes
Poetry Award
March 2010 - Jim is Featured Poet at
Poetry Superhighway.
June 2010 - Two poems selected to feature in a
campaign supporting wetlands habitat.
December 2010 - Jim on the Purple Patch list of most popular
small press poets.
January 2011 - Judging and reading for Adoption Matters
North West competition event at Gorton Abbey.
August 2011 -
Jim judging 3 competitions. Two in the UK one in USA.
September 2011 -
Reading in Heswall and Liverpool with PK Poets.
October 2011 -
Receives notice of a Pushcart Award Nomination. Reading
and MC at the Lowry Centre in Manchester.
June 2012 - Jim
judges 2 US competitions.
November 2012 -
"the cartographer / Heswall" poetry sequences are
published by Indego Dreams
November 2012 -
Jim judging UK competition.
December 2012 -
The Cartographer/Heswall nominated for the Ted Hughes Award
April 2013 - Jim
Wins
Sentinel Poetry Competition.
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From
Jim Bennett read some
of his best work on this fine studio album from
Long Neck Media. With a selection of songs and
poetry covering thirty years of an amazing
creative output. This is the definitive Jim
Bennett collection.
