The Poetry Archive is pleased to announce the appointment of Tracey Guiry as its new Director. She will join the Archive in November this year from her current role as CEO of Literature Works.

Tracey Guiry has specialised in the arts and cultural sector for over 25 years and has expertise in all aspects of charity and creative sector development and planning. Her career has taken in film-making, cinema design, visitor attraction planning, heritage capital development and literature development, where she brings a robust approach to business planning, sustainability and fundraising. As the CEO of Literature Works she established the National Memory Day in partnership with the Alzheimer’s Society, the Poetry Archive and Plymouth University and launched ‘Read South West’ and the Reading Passport to support library reader development in the South West of England. She celebrated her first half-century by taking on a PhD studying the impact and value of children’s literature on dementia and memory loss and is particularly passionate about developing poetry relevant to young people.

On her appointment Tracey Guiry said, “I have personal experience of the extraordinary transformational power of poetry and also its ability to create bridges between individuals and communities. I’m delighted to now have the opportunity to help grow The Poetry Archive’s fantastic collection of the very best poetic voices and to make poetry accessible and relevant to an ever wider national and international audience.”

Jean Sprackland, Chair of Trustees said, “We are delighted with the appointment of Tracey Guiry as our new Director. We were looking for someone exceptional who could build on the Archive’s first decade and take it into the next phase with confidence. Tracey was selected as the outstanding individual from a very strong field.”

The Poetry Archive was launched in 2005 by poet Sir Andrew Motion and audio producer Richard Carrington, who stepped back as Joint Directors earlier this year. Andrew continues to be a source of expertise and support from his base in the USA, while Richard has taken on the role of Recordings Manager.