Young writers and poets from schools and colleges around the UK are being invited to submit a piece of prose, or a poem, for “One & Other” – the live artwork by sculptor Antony Gormley.
Upcoming “Plinther” Paul Sample has invited pupils, students and teachers to send him an unpublished piece of written work of not more than 100 words.
50 of the best pieces will be read out on the Fourth Plinth in Trafalgar Square on Saturday 3rd October. The reading will take place just days before National Poetry Day on 8th October.
“One & Other” is running from 6th July to 14th October. For 100 days and nights, participants will spend an hour alone on the empty fourth plinth in Trafalgar Square.
Over 33,500 people applied to go on the Plinth, and Paul Sample is one of only 2,400 people selected to take part.
He says: “Our schools and colleges are alive with creative writing talent. I want to get young people and teachers involved in “One & Other” by contributing prose and poetry from all corners of the UK.
“I’ve chosen 100 words as the maximum word limit in order that I can read as many pieces as possible inside the hour. I intend to read out the most interesting pieces to showcase the writing talent found in UK schools and colleges. It is a celebration of the work of young people.
“I hope it will help make Antony’s work even more accessible to young people – and for them to speak back to The World.”
Entries must be an original unpublished piece of prose, or poem, not exceeding 100 words. The closing date for submissions is 12am on Wednesday 30 September.
Entries must be submitted via a form on the www.themustardagency.com website, where the rules of the competition can be found.
Shortlisted poems will be read out on Saturday 3rd October 2009.
For more information, contact Paul Sample on 01722 744033 or 07976 203570 (mobile) or e-mail him at: paul.sample@themustardagency.com
Details of how to enter the project can be found at: www.themustardagency.com
Paul Sample, 48, comes from Wilton, in Wiltshire. He is the Managing Director of The Mustard Agency – a PR and Marketing Consultancy which works with Schools and Colleges in the UK. He is a Justice of the Peace, a County Councillor and the former Mayor of Salisbury.
