2021 Tasmanian Poetry Festival to kick off

The festival, in its 37th year, will run from March 19-28 and include six poetry packed events.

Chair of the TPF committee Colin Berry said the annual festival was vital for poets.

"Traditionally [the festival] has been held in October but we decided, partly because of COVID, to get in while the going was good," he said.

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One of the biggest events of the festival be the Launceston Poetry Cup, in which poems must be read in under one minute or the poet will be disqualified.

The winner is judged by the loudest audience response.

Mr Berry said the festival always tried to invite a broad selection of poets to cater to everyone's interests.

"We have a wide audience that turns up. We try to get people from different age groups. People have different interests," he said.

However, the broad selection not only includes genre but also geographical location.

"The great thing is we are able to get people from different parts of Tasmania," Mr Berry said.

"There's a lot of variety in backgrounds and geography."

The festival also helps recognise poets in Tasmania who otherwise may not have a platform to share their work.

Tasmanian poet Kim Nolan said what interested her was how she could use her writing to understand her own experiences and connect to other people.

"The TPF is a great platform for local writers to perform and to be influenced by accomplished national and international poets," she said.

"I love how poetry comes to life when it's performed.

"Like all good art it can punch a hole through your chest and make more room. It can make you laugh or silence you. It can take you in it's arms and warm you to the marrow."

Nolan's current focus is to raise her profile and gain mentorship in a bid to get more of her work published.

For more information on the festival or to purchase tickets visit taspoetryfest.org. Hard copy tickets are available from Petrarch's Bookshop.

Cheaper tickets are available for those who want to attend all six events.