Community Arts Partnership (CAP) is inviting schools across Northern Ireland to submit an Expression of Interest for Poetry in Motion for Schools (PIMS) 2026–27.
Poetry in Motion for Schools is CAP’s long-running creative writing programme, bringing producing local poets into schools to work directly with pupils and teachers. Through participatory workshops, young people are encouraged to explore language, develop their own ideas and discover confidence in their individual creative voice.
At the heart of PIMS is the opportunity for young people not to study poetry, but to write it. The programme supports creativity, experimentation and authorship, with pupils producing original poems drawn from their own ideas, experiences and imaginations.
From the classroom to the Seamus Heaney Awards
Work created through PIMS can go considerably further than the school classroom.
Selected poems will be published in CAP’s 2026–27 schools anthology, Write About Now, celebrating the writing of young people from participating schools across Northern Ireland.
Outstanding work will also be considered for the Seamus Heaney Awards for Achievement, CAP’s annual awards recognising exceptional poetry by young writers participating in Poetry in Motion for Schools and endorsed by our late Nobel laureate’s family.
The programme culminates in a public celebration bringing together young poets and schools to recognise and celebrate their achievement.
Who can apply?
Expressions of Interest are welcomed from primary, post-primary and special schools across Northern Ireland.
Funded places are limited and CAP always seeks to build a balanced programme. We therefore ask schools to tell us briefly about their school community, the pupils they hope to involve and what they believe participation in PIMS could offer them.
- Closing date: Friday 9 October 2026
Apply for PIMS 2026–27
The Expression of Interest is straightforward to complete. Schools selected for the programme will subsequently work with CAP to arrange their poet/facilitator and programme delivery.
Complete the Poetry in Motion for Schools 2026–27 Expression of Interest
Poetry in Motion for Schools is supported by our principal funder, The Arts Council of Northern Ireland. The programme is developed and delivered by Community Arts Partnership, supporting Access, Agency, Authorship and Active Ownership through community arts practice.
