BUDDING poets and artists of all ages across the county are being invited to submit entires to a museum on the theme of regeneration.

Bowes Museum in Barnard Castle is launching Open Call on National Poetry Day, with the backing of Children’s Laureate, Cressida Cowell.

Part of a landmark exhibition by the international award-winning British painter, Martin Kinnear whose major solo exhibition, Regeneration runs at The Bowes Museum from January 22 to April 25.

The Covid pandemic has had a huge impact on individuals in Britain and The Bowes Museum is keen to offer everyone in the country an opportunity to express creatively how it has affected their lives.

Cressida Cowell said: “ The pandemic has been very hard on us all but particularly children. The Bowes Museum national poetry competition is a fabulous way for children and young people to express their feelings about this defining moment in their lives and I whole heartedly encourage young people to take part.”

The artwork and poetry entries will be divided into three age categories: six to 11, 12-17 and over 18 and the museum is urging parents, teachers and head teachers the length and breadth of the UK to encourage young people to get involved alongside the adults. The deadline for all entries is 11.59pm on Sunday, November 28.

The poet, and Associate Professor in English Literature and Creative Writing at Durham University, Dr Paul Batchelor will be joining Martin Kinnear and one of the museum’s trustees in judging the poetry competition. The winners in the poetry categories will have their works recorded and played out at set times of the day in the gallery for the duration of the exhibition.

Mr Kinnear, TV and radio celebrity Jenny Éclair, herself an accomplished painter, will select artworks to be hung as part of the main Regeneration exhibition. All artwork submissions will be exhibited online by the museum. Winners will be informed within 14 days of the closing date.

For more information, see thebowesmuseum.org.uk.