As an innovative new project is launched by HI~Arts, the search is on for a poet to work with communities and to address the issue of suicide in the Highlands and Islands.

HI~Arts, the arts development agency for the Highlands and Islands of Scotland, announces the launch of the Embedded Poets Project, a truly unique and innovative poetry commission aimed at reuniting communities with poetry through the production of new work, and a programme of workshops and performances on key social and cultural issues affecting the region.

With project funding from Scottish Arts Council and Highlands and Islands Enterprise, HI~Arts has two commissions to award in 2005 - 2006, and is now seeking to appoint the first poet to the project. The first poet will be working on the troubling issue of suicide, particularly of young men in the Highlands and Islands.

HI~Arts Writing Development Coordinator, Peter Urpeth said:

"The Embedded Poets Project is aimed at reuniting communities with the power of poetry through the production of new work on key issues. Poetry and creative writing in general, has a major role to play in the strength and development of communities. Writing is about the formation and expression of identity as well as giving recognition, determination and a voice to the community. The development of this project is, therefore, our attempt to ignite, explore and reinvigorate that process.

"The communities of the Highlands and Islands are faced with many difficult challenges, and amongst the most challenging is the suicide rate of young men, which remains very much above the national average. I think writing and the arts should be close to the heart of our understanding of these issues. The poet who will work with us on this project will be an exceptional writer who can bring insight and, I hope, new understanding to this issue."

Robert Livingston, Director, HI~Arts said:

“For several years now HI~Arts has been actively collaborating on projects with the health sector in the Highlands and Islands. We welcome this unique opportunity to demonstrate the role that poetry can play in shedding light on even the darkest and most painful subjects.”

To download the brief for the Embedded Poet Project go to www.hi-arts.co.uk/writing

The project is funded by Highlands and Islands Enterprise and Scottish Arts Council Lottery Funding.