Public Poets, Public Poems, Public Art. All-day seminar for “all who like poetry” at the British Library. Speakers include Poet Laureate Andrew Motion, Dome poet Simon Armitage and Chris Meade, Poetry Society director. The British Library, Events Box Office, 96 Euston Road, London NW1 2DB.

Tel: 0171 412 7222.

* OCTOBER 7

National Poetry Day: Poetry and Song Lyrics. Posters and flyers have been sent to every primary and secondary school and library, suggesting ways in which they can take part - for example, by setting up song-writing workshops or rewriting lyrics to a favourite song. Events already planned include: a line-up of poetry readings at the Royal Overseas League, Canada House, London; the announcement of the 1999 Forward Prize (“the UK’s premier poetry awards”), and Manchester’s “poetry hospital” with live ‘mummies’ to write poetry about and other entertainments. Contact The Poetry Society, 22 Betterton Street, London WC2H 9BU. Tel: 0171 420 9880 * OCTOBER 8-24

Cheltenham Festival of Literature schools programme includes Junior Poetry Slam!, a mini-festival of performance poetry. Festival brochure hotline: 01242 237377