Stanza Poetry Festival
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StAnza is a poetry festival which takes place in March in the university town of St Andrews, Scotland. The Times newspaper referred to StAnza as “the country’s leading poetry festival” in 2024.[1]
It has run every year since its inception in 1998, barring 2020 when it was interrupted by the Covid pandemic.[2] In 2021, StAnza ran as an online-only festival due to ongoing Covid restrictions, and now continues to offer both in-person and online events as part of an ongoing hybrid programme.[3]
The Festival uses as a hub The Byre Theatre in St Andrews, and regularly programmes events in other venues around the town.[4]
History
[edit]From 1998 to 2002, StAnza was held in October of each year. However, in 2003 the festival changed to a regular March fixture.[5]
In advance of the 2024 festival, a Moroccan poet who had been booked to perform was denied a visa by the Home Office.[6] Soukaina Habiballah was due to appear as part of "Resilient Voices: Celebrating Middle Eastern Women in the Arts", but was initially blocked entry to the UK, on the grounds that she could be considered a flight risk. [7] The Home Office revised their decision shortly before the festival, after coming under pressure from public figures.[8]
References
[edit]- ^ Wade, Mike (6 March 2024). "StAnza festival organisers protest at visa ban on Moroccan poet". www.thetimes.com. Retrieved 19 September 2024.
- ^ Article on tenth anniversary, Scottish Arts Council, UK.
- ^ Smith, Craig (5 March 2021). "StAnza, Scotland's International Poetry Festival, goes online this weekend". The Courier.
- ^ Mansfield, Susan (11 March 2024). "Festival review: StAnza, various venues, St Andrews". The Scotsman.
- ^ Scottish Arts Council article on StAnza
- ^ Elliards, Xander (6 March 2024). "Soukaina Habiballah: Home Office denies visa for poet's Scottish visit".
- ^ Fergusson, Brian (6 March 2024). "Moroccan poet to perform at Scottish festival after Home Office visa climbdown". scotsman.com.
- ^ "Home Office grant visa for award-winning poet's Scottish visit following backlash". The National. 6 March 2024. Retrieved 9 September 2024.
External links
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- ^ "Moroccan poet to perform at Scottish festival after Home Office visa climbdown". Fife Today. 6 March 2024.