THE GRIFFIN TRUST For Excellence In Poetry

THE GRIFFIN TRUST
For Excellence In Poetry

“Poetry is something more philosophical and more worthy of serious attention than history.”
– Aristotle

The Griffin Trust was created to serve and encourage excellence in poetry written in English anywhere in the world. The Griffin Trust is a Canadian initiative founded in April, 2000 by Scott Griffin, its Chairman, with Trustees Margaret Atwood, Robert Hass, Michael Ondaatje, Robin Robertson and David Young. In June of 2004 Carolyn Forché was asked, and accepted an invitation to join the board of Trustees. The purpose of The Griffin Trust is to raise public awareness of the crucial role poetry must play in society's cultural life.

The Griffin Trust’s support for poets, for poetry, and for the publishers of poetry will include two annual literary prizes worth $40,000 (Cdn) each. In April 2005, Scott Griffin increased the amount of the prize which now awards each of the two winners $50,000 (Cdn). These prizes will be awarded annually for collections of poetry published in English during the preceding year. One prize will go to a living Canadian poet, the other to a living poet from any other country, which may include Canada. Qualified judges will be selected annually by the Trustees and the prizes will be awarded in the spring of each year.

The Griffin Poetry Prize will be promoted both through readings from shortlisted poets and by the marketing and advertising aid organized through publishers and bookstores. In this respect, it is hoped that The Griffin Poetry Prize will help introduce contemporary collections of poetry to the public's imagination.

Eligible collections of poetry will have been published between January 1 and December 31 of any given year. Submission by publishers only.

“Poets are the unacknowledged legislators of the world.”
– Percy Bysshe Shelley