The Poetry Book Society is delighted to announce the call for submissions for Next Generation Poets 2014, the prestigious accolade announced

only once every ten years, recognising the 20 most exciting new poets from the UK and Ireland.

This is the third time the accolade will be awarded, having already launched a raft of illustrious careers in the past: the 20 New Generation Poets in

1994 included the likes of Simon Armitage, John Burnside and Carol Ann Duffy; and Next Generation Poets in 2004 included Alice Oswald,

Owen Sheers, Gwyneth Lewis and Jean Sprackland.

Open to poets of any age who have published their first collection in the decade between 1 May 2004 and 30 April 2014,

Next Generation Poets 2014 is a rare chance for adult poets who are still building their careers and developing their audience to gain widespread

recognition. Following in the footsteps of their predecessors, this list aims to find the 20 poets who will dominate the next ten years.

The 20 poets will be chosen by a panel of judges comprising poet and playwright Caroline Bird;Robert Crawford, from the New Generation

Poets list; Paul Farley, from Next Generation Poets; and the poet Clare Pollard. Poet and broadcaster Ian McMillan will be Chair of the judges.

McMillan said: "New and developing poets are the lifeblood of poetry, an art form that constantly renews and reinvents itself, and I'm excited and

proud to be involved with Next Generation Poets 2014, a signpost and a roadmap to a potentially marvellous poetic future."

The aim of Next Generation Poets 2014 is to bring high-quality poetry to a wider audience, and an opportunity to bring together past nominees with

the next generation, to encourage and stimulate dialogue around poetry. To that end, the announcement of the 20 will be accompanied by an

extensive events programme starting in September 2014: 23 events involving past and current poets are planned, taking place not only in

bookshops and libraries, but also festivals and arts venues, culminating in a celebration in a major London venue, to which all the poets will be

invited, in March 2015.

Submissions can be made by publishers here, and the submission guidelines are also available here.

The closing date for entries is 5 June 2014. The full list of 20 will be announced on 9 September 2014.

Next Generation Poets 2014 is supported by ACE Grants for the Arts. It is also funded by the T S Eliot Estate as part of a year of supporting

poetry to mark the 50th anniversary of T S Eliot's death in January 2015.