Bards in the Bog

Launched in February 2009, the Bards in the Bog project displays original poetry in Shetland's public toilets.

All 24 poems selected by Jen Hadfield have now been published in a book to celebrate the Bards project. It was launched on 19th November 2009 - World Toilet Day - and all profits will go to the World Toilet Organisation. Price is £5. See our photo gallery below.

Bards in the Bog book: mail order form (£5 a copy)

Book launch press release.

Bards in the Bog: thanks to everyone who helped!

Photos below (click to enlarge): the book was unveiled at Shetland Library on World Toilet Day by poet Jen Hadfield. The event next evening to celebrate it featured four local Bards - James Sinclair, Jim Mainland, Susan Pearson and Keith Adam - and two volunteer readers, Silvija Crook and Caroline Henderson. Between them they read all the poems from the book. Apt and amusing music was provided by Milford Georgeson and Trevor Jamieson.

Jen Hadfield said of her first selection: “Settling on six poems out of the 130 or so sent in was very very difficult. The folder included poems that were hilarious, weighty, experimental, formal, satiric, playful. I set myself to choose great poems that also demonstrated the stylistic variety of the submissions. There should be something for everyone.”

The launch of the Bards in the Bog project, February 2009: press release

As our Poet Partner, Jen selected a special poetry collection for our stock and wrote two leaflets about her choices. Read our download them here: Jen Hadfield leaflet One Jen Hadfield Leaflet Two

Bards in the Bog is a Poet Partner project supported by Shetland Library, Shetland Arts, the Scottish Poetry Library and Paul Hamlyn Trust.

Shetland Islands Council