Wales is to get its inaugural national poetry collection following a new initiative from the University of South Wales.

The institution will create the National Poetry Library of Wales via a fully-funded doctoral studentship, establishing the collection as a digital-first operation spread across multiple sites and intended to bring poetry to a wide audience.

The venture forms part of the Celtic Crescent Doctoral Fund Award and receives its financing from the Arts and Humanities Research Council.

According to Dr Ben Gwalchmai, who teaches digital innovation at USW, the scheme extends beyond pure scholarship. He explained that constructing a digital-first national poetry repository represents a significant development for Wales’s creative sector. The approach guarantees that poetry in both Welsh and English reaches people everywhere, whether in remote seaside settlements or former industrial areas.

The initiative seeks to overcome location-based and economic obstacles by offering poetry access through online channels and various physical centres.

The successful PhD researcher will contribute to constructing the collection while also conducting an extended impact assessment using the Qualitative Impact Assessment Protocol. This study will examine how the library influences creative communities, especially those in overlooked or disadvantaged micro-clusters.

The studentship provides full funding for a maximum of four years, encompassing tuition fees and a tax-exempt annual maintenance grant of £21,805 for the 2026–27 academic year.

Guidance will come from Dr Gwalchmai alongside Professor Diana Wallace and Dr Rebecca Hutcheon.

Candidates need fluency in both Welsh and English together with background in the creative sector, digital humanities, or literary studies.

The closing date for submissions is Friday, 10 April 2026 at 4pm, with studies commencing in October 2026.

Comprehensive application information can be found through the USW Graduate School website.