Abstract Benna is inaugurated as Lambeth’s first ever Poet Laureate! 📝🏆📚🗣️ A deeply valued member of the Southbank Centre’s #NewPoetsCollective - we feel blessed to have hosted this powerful and emotive ceremony in his honour - with Lambeth Council Taking to the stage with two other young Lambeth poets, Achia Thérése (@aichatherese) and Magero (@magero_tbh), Abstract Benna (@abstractbenna) led spellbinding performances touching on identity, community and the pressing issue of climate change. Abstract Benna made an impassioned speech about what the role of a Laureate can achieve for the borough. “I’m a spoken word artist, Lambeth born and bred. My themes are about identity – about how everything that is around you becomes a part of you. I’m ecstatic to be Lambeth’s first Poet Laureate. This is a historical moment for talent in the borough; the first of its kind in Lambeth and one which will encourage people to push the boundaries on what could be” Lambeth’s Poet Laureate will write, perform and create work throughout the year, but will also work in partnership with the council to build networks and champion creative opportunities for residents across the borough. In the inaugural position, Abstract Benna is also committed to helping shape what will be an annual role for Laureates to come. Lambeth’s Poet Laureate is supported through Lambeth’s Townhall Art Programme and ELEVATE, Lambeth’s mission to open up the creative and cultural sector to every young person in the borough, both managed by the Business, Culture and Investment team at Lambeth Council. The New Poets Collective programme is centred around the National Poetry Library. It helps a group of up to 15 poets hone their skills and expand their knowledge and confidence. @lambeth_council #LambethELEVATE #Lambeth #LambethsGotTalent #Poet #PoetLaureate #Poetry #TSEliotFoundation #NewPoetsCollective #Poet #Poetry #SpokenWord #SCPoetry #NPL #NationalPoetryLibrary #PoetryLibrary #PoetryCommunity #PoetsOfInstagram #PoetsOfIG #PoetryLovers #PoetryGram #Southbank #SouthbankCentre