Hip Hop artist and debut poet Karl Nova was announced the winner of CLiPPA 2018 at the Olivier Theatre on the South Bank this afternoon, to a great cheer from the young people in the audience – clearly a highly popular winner. 

Rising Stars, a poetry collection including young poets and performers from under-represented communities, was highly commended.

Grace Nichols, Poet and Chair of the CLiPPA 2018 judges praised the winning book: “This book really stood out for me with its refreshing use of the rap genre, its musicality, its immediacy and thoughtful reflections on the creative process. Karl Nova’s poems ring true with a sincere charm that children and young people can relate to and that may inspire their own writing.”

Rhythm and Poetry, Karl’s debut collection, includes poems drawn from his extensive work as a poetry educator and the many workshops he holds in schools. It has a refreshing directness, honesty and authenticity which encourages children to see poetry in the everyday, explores the musicality of the medium and demonstrates the currency and significance of rap as an art form. The book is published by Caboodle, the publishing arm of Authors Abroad, which operates on a 50/50 share of costs and profits with  published authors.

This year, with the support of the Siobhan Dowd Trust, CLPE have ensured 350 free copies of the shortlisted poetry books will be sent to teachers nationally to celebrate poetry with children.

Karl Nova received the award and a cheque for £1,000 in front of a packed audience of poets, educators, publishers, hundreds of shadowing school children and media at The National Theatre.  The shortlisted poets all performed on stage alongside children from the CLiPPA Shadowing Scheme, whose winning performances were selected from hundreds of competition entries. Everyone who attended received an advance copy of the new anthology from National Poetry Day, Poetry for a Change.

CLiPPA is made possible by the generous support of ALCS, Siobhan Dowd Trust and St Olave’s Fund.

Films of the shortlisted poets performing and teaching resources are available at www.clpe.org.uk/poetryline