BURNS Night appears to be sparking a resurgence in Scotland’s budding bards as spoken word poetry usage soars.
The 25 January – the same date as Robert Burns’ birthday – is a celebration of the country’s most famous poet marked by dancing, music and traditional Scottish scran.
Reciting Burns’ poetry lies at the heart of the day, with his famous poem Address to a Haggis traditionally recited before the haggis itself is enjoyed in a Burns supper.
Burns’ work resonates far beyond his home country though, with perhaps his most famous song, Auld Lang Syne, continuing to be sung worldwide at the stroke of midnight on New Year’s Eve to bid farewell to the year gone by.
The bard’s legacy is reflected in new insights from VisitScotland, who interviewed 15 organisers of relevant events, including Scottish literary, cultural, and tourism stakeholders.
The organisation’s findings fascinatingly reveal a growing interest in spoken word poetry across the country.
Poetry events are gaining remarkable popularity across the UK, with search data revealing a striking 420% increase in interest over the past year.
According to the interview findings, 60% of respondents have also observed a noticeable rise in spoken word events, with many attributing this trend to Burns’ influence.
Furthermore, 86% agree that Burns’ works, while celebrated on Burns Night, are inspiring at any time and play a significant role in raising awareness of spoken word poetry in Scotland.
The findings show that in addition to more events, a significant number of the stakeholders interviewed said there had been an increase in venues eager to host the events, with many having spotted its presence weaving into other cultural and artistic events more often.
Performers, too, are embracing the moment, with the majority of those interviewed having seen an increase in performers keen to take the stage at spoken word events.
Burns Night is a major catalyst for the growing interest in spoken word poetry. According to the interview findings, 77% of respondents believe it plays a significant role in raising awareness of this art form across Scotland.
Its impact extends beyond awareness, with the majority of the respondents revealing that Burns Night celebrations have encouraged more people to perform spoken word poetry for the first time.
Many of them also believe Burns Night traditions help to bridge the gap between traditional poetry and contemporary spoken word performances.
The influence of Burns Night continues beyond January with many of the interviewed event organisers agreeing it has inspired them to host other spoken word poetry gatherings throughout the year and that Burns Night has contributed to increased interest in spoken word poetry year-round.
