Poetry Organisations, Societies and Libraries
A selected directory of established organisations offering poetry events, development, education, advocacy, archives, libraries and opportunities. This replaces obsolete postal, fax and individual staff details with links to organisations' current information.
UK and Ireland – national and major organisations
The Poetry Society
UK
Membership organisation founded in 1909. Publishes The Poetry Review and runs events, education programmes, the National Poetry Competition and Young Poets Network.
Apples and Snakes
England · performance poetry
National organisation for performance poetry, supporting poet development, live work, education and spoken-word programmes. Poet in the City merged with Apples and Snakes in 2025.
Poetry Ireland / Éigse Éireann
Ireland
Connects poetry and people across the island of Ireland through publications, performance, education and opportunities for poets at different career stages.
Scottish Poetry Library
Scotland
A major public poetry resource in Edinburgh with Scottish and international collections, lending and reference services, events, learning work and extensive online resources.
Literature Wales
Wales
National literature development organisation supporting writers through courses, bursaries, mentoring, training, events, awards and community programmes in Welsh and English.
New Writing North
North of England
Literature development agency based in Newcastle upon Tyne, running talent development, awards, events and reading and writing programmes across the North.
Arvon
UK · creative writing development
Long-established creative-writing charity offering residential and online courses, retreats and development opportunities across poetry and other forms, with grants and concessions available.
Exiled Writers Ink
UK · international and displaced writers
Supports and promotes writers from refugee, migrant and exiled backgrounds through events, workshops, publications and literary activity.
Poetry libraries and specialist collections
National Poetry Library
London
Major public collection devoted to modern and contemporary poetry, based at Southbank Centre, with books, magazines, audio material, events and digital resources.
Scottish Poetry Library
Edinburgh
Free-access lending and reference collections with a strong focus on Scottish and contemporary international poetry, plus archives and online resources.
Manchester Poetry Library
Manchester
Poetry library at Manchester Metropolitan University with collections, events and public engagement, including multilingual and recorded poetry.
Northern Poetry Library
Northumberland
Specialist poetry collection within Northumberland Libraries. Check the library service for current access and catalogue information.
International poetry societies and organisations
Academy of American Poets
United States
National poetry organisation and publisher of Poets.org, with poems, poet resources, programmes and Poem-a-Day.
Poetry Society of America
United States
Long-established organisation supporting poetry through awards, events, publications and public programmes.
League of Canadian Poets
Canada
National organisation supporting Canadian poets and poetry through membership, awards, programmes, advocacy and resources.
Australian Poetry
Australia
National poetry organisation supporting poets, publishing, events and development opportunities in Australia.
Poetry International
International · Rotterdam
International platform and organisation associated with Poetry International Festival Rotterdam, presenting poets and poetry in translation from around the world.
Australian Haiku Society
Australia · haiku
Organisation promoting haiku and related Japanese poetic forms in Australia, with information, publications and community resources.
Useful writer-development organisations
Spread the Word
London
Writer-development agency offering opportunities, workshops, programmes and support, with a particular commitment to widening access to the literature sector.
Writing West Midlands
West Midlands
Literature development organisation supporting writers, young writers and readers through events, programmes and professional development.
National Centre for Writing
Norwich · UK and international
Supports writers and literary translation through development programmes, residencies, events, learning and international exchange.
National Association of Writers in Education (NAWE)
UK · writing education
Professional organisation and network concerned with creative writing in education and community settings.