The The NSW Writers' Centre

Blake Poetry Prize

Exploring the Religious and Spiritual Through Poetry

The 2012 Blake Poetry Prize presented by the NSW Writers’ Centre and the Blake Society is now open for entries.

Named for visionary artist and poet William Blake, the $5,000 Prize was established to give Australian poets new possibilities to explore religion and spirituality in the twenty-first century.

Robert Adamson, the winner of the 2011 Blake Poetry Prize for his poem Via Negativa, The Divine Dark said, “Of all the prizes for poetry the Blake is the one. Like its namesake, it stands for something more than its generous bounty. It vibrates with William Blake’s unique vision.”

“Blake’s poetry has nourished many souls over the years, and this prize reminds us that we do indeed have souls to keep. It is an honour to win the Blake because it symbolises the toughness one needs to be able to create that lasting thing – the visionary company of love.”

Renowned Australian poets Martin Langford, Peter Minter and Amelia Walker will judge this year’s Prize.

An entry form is available from here.

Answers to frequently asked questions are available here.

Previous Winners
2011: Robert Adamson, Via Negativa The Divine Dark

Watch an interview with Robert Adamson here, recorded at the National Art School during the Blake Conversation Series. Robert reads his poem and discusses the spirituality in his work.

2010: Tasha Sudan, Rahula
2009: John Watson Four Ways to Approach the Numinous
2008: Mark Tredinnick Have you seen …

About The Blake Society
The Blake Society, named after the visionary artist and poet, William Blake, is an independent organization that administers an annual Exhibition and Prize for contemporary religious and spiritual art. The aim of the Blake Society is to encourage contemporary artists to explore the spiritual in art. The Blake Society was formed at the instigation of a Jesuit priest, Michael Scott and a Jewish businessman, Richard Morley. They hoped that the establishment of a prize would encourage artists of disparate styles and religious allegiances to create significant works of art with religious content. Today its members hope to stimulate the interaction of ideas and spiritual thought across all contemporary artistic media in Australia. The Society is a registered charity with DGR status.

The Blake Poetry Prize is made possible by the support of Leichhardt Municipal Council, which has a strong commitment to supporting the arts.