FORWARD ARTS FOUNDATION

What FORWARD ARTS FOUNDATION does

Forward Arts Foundation is a UK-registered charity founded in 1991 by William Sieghart CBE that operates as the national infrastructure body for poetry promotion in the UK and Ireland. It runs three interconnected programmes: National Poetry Day (an annual mass celebration first held in 1994 that now reaches 500 million people through media and 1.5 million on-the-day participants across schools, libraries, and cultural venues); the Forward Prizes for Poetry (first awarded in 1992, comprising four categories — Best Collection £10,000, Jerwood Prize for Best First Collection £5,000, Best Single Poem – Written £1,000, and Best Single Poem – Performed £1,000); and a publishing arm producing the annual Forward Book of Poetry anthology and the Poems of the Decade series, the latter embedded in the Pearson Edexcel A Level syllabus and studied by approximately 8,000 English Literature students each year. The organization is headquartered at Somerset House Exchange on The Strand in London.

The business model is a multi-stream charity funding structure rather than a commercial revenue model. Income derives from individual donations and patrons (regular giving, one-time donations via PayPal, legacy giving), institutional grants from Arts Council England, Bloomberg Philanthropies, Jerwood Foundation, the Authors' Licensing and Collecting Society (ALCS), and a roster of named charitable trusts (CHK Foundation, Harold Hyam Charitable Trust, John Booth Charitable Foundation, Robert Gavron Charitable Trust, among others), revenue from book sales through booktrade partners such as Waterstones and the Booksellers Association, and corporate sponsorship packages for programme patrons. Distribution is governed by a co-Executive Director leadership (Lucy Macnab and Mónica Parle) and a Chair-led Board of Trustees, with operational reach delivered through a partner ecosystem of 25+ literary organizations including the Poetry Society, Scottish Poetry Library, National Literacy Trust, British Library, Poetry Book Society, and Literature Wales.

Name

FORWARD ARTS FOUNDATION

Legal name

Forward Arts Foundation

Website

https://forwardartsfoundation.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1991

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Forward Arts Foundation is a UK and Ireland poetry charity that runs National Poetry Day, the Forward Prizes for Poetry, and published anthologies, serving schools, libraries, poets, and the general public through a network of literary partners.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Literary and Poetry Promotion Charity

NAICS

Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Grantmaking and Giving Services (8132), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813)

SIC

Miscellaneous Publishing (2741), Books: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2731)

akta.pro primary industry

Literary Arts & Writing Organizations (BPAGAHAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Arts Education & Community Arts Programs (BPAGAHAC), Public Art, Arts Councils & Grantmaking Programs (BPAGAHAH), Spoken-Word Poetry Slams (MPAGACAF), Spoken Word & Performance Poetry Workshops (EDAMAMAM)

Keywords

• Poetry promotion
• Literary charity
• Poetry awards
• Poetry education
• Poetry publishing

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual donations and patronage: The charity relies on individual donors and patrons for support, with options for regular giving, one-time donations via PayPal, and legacy giving programmes.
2. Institutional funding and grants: Funding from Arts Council England, Bloomberg Philanthropies, Jerwood Foundation, ALCS, and various named charitable trusts including CHK Foundation, Harold Hyam Charitable Trust, John Booth Charitable Foundation, Robert Gavron Charitable Trust, and others.
3. Book sales: Revenue from sales of The Forward Book of Poetry annual anthology and Poems of the Decade series. The Poems of the Decade 2001-2010 is on the Edexcel A Level syllabus.
4. Sponsorship packages: Corporate sponsorship packages available for patrons and programme sponsors who wish to support the organization's work.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Forward Arts Foundation is a UK and Ireland charity that promotes the enjoyment and understanding of poetry through three interconnected programmes: National Poetry Day (an annual nationwide mass celebration of poetry held on the first Thursday of October), the Forward Prizes for Poetry (annual awards honouring fresh voices and established names across four categories including a spoken word prize), and poetry anthologies (The Forward Book of Poetry annual anthology and the Poems of the Decade series, the latter adopted on the Edexcel A Level syllabus). The charity provides free educational resources to schools and supports poets and communities through its network of literary partners.

Product overview

Forward Arts Foundation operates as a charity managing three interconnected poetry programs: National Poetry Day (an annual mass celebration reaching 1.5 million people with themed events and resources), the Forward Prizes for Poetry (four award categories recognizing excellence in poetry collections, first collections, and single poems—written and performed), and published anthologies (The Forward Book of Poetry as an annual collection and the Poems of the Decade series as decade-spanning compilations). These offerings work together to promote poetry enjoyment, recognize achievement, and nurture talent in the UK and Ireland poetry community.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• National Poetry Day: The biggest mass celebration of poetry in the UK, reaching 1.5 million people participating on the day with over 500 million reached annually through various channels.
• Forward Prizes for Poetry
• The Forward Book of Poetry
• Poems of the Decade

Products and services

• National Poetry Day An annual nationwide celebration of poetry held on the first Thursday of October, reaching 1.5 million participants on the day and over 500 million people annually through booktrade promotions, ambassadors, publications, posters, badges, bookmarks, educational resources, live events, social media, and a network of partner organisations. Features events, poems, resources, and a specific annual theme (2026: Wonder) to encourage people to make, experience, and share poetry with family and friends.
• Forward Prizes for Poetry The most influential poetry awards in the UK and Ireland, first awarded in 1992, honouring fresh voices alongside internationally established names. Comprises four prize categories: The Forward Prize for Best Collection (£10,000), The Jerwood Prize for Best First Collection (£5,000), The Forward Prize for Best Single Poem – Written (£1,000), and The Forward Prize for Best Single Poem – Performed (£1,000). Notable winners include Simon Armitage, Seamus Heaney, Carol Ann Duffy, Jackie Kay, and Thom Gunn.
• The Forward Book of Poetry An annual anthology collecting the year's best poems from Forward Prizes shortlists and highly commended entries, combining fresh voices with familiar names. Published each year as a print and eBook collection, making it essential reading for seasoned poetry enthusiasts and new readers alike.
• Poems of the Decade Series Anthology series gathering over 100 poems from submissions to the Forward Prizes over each preceding decade. The Poems of the Decade 2001-2010 volume is on the Edexcel A Level syllabus, studied by approximately 8,000 English Literature students annually.

Quantifiable outcome

• 500 million people reached annually through National Poetry Day campaigns
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core, key and supporting.

• The Poetry SocietycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUK organisation dedicated to poetry promotion; one of the key literary partners in the Forward Arts Foundation network.
• Scottish Poetry LibrarycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerScotland's national poetry library; provides poetry resources and events as a partner organisation.
• National Literacy TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUK charity improving literacy; partners on young writers programmes and educational resources.
• WaterstoneskeyChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMajor UK book retailer partner for sales of Forward Books of Poetry and other publications.
• Poetry Book SocietysupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCurates poetry book recommendations and supports poetry distribution as a partner.
• First StorysupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCharity placing professional writers in schools; partners on young writers programmes.
• World Book DaykeyStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational celebration of books and reading; collaborates on literary promotion activities.
• Centre for Literacy in Primary Education (CLPE)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides teacher training and The Power of Reading programme as part of National Poetry Day partner activities.
• British LibrarysupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational library of the UK; partners on literary events and poetry promotion.
• Booksellers AssociationsupportingChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTrade association for UK booksellers; supports booktrade promotion of Forward publications.
• Reading AgencysupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerUK charity inspiring people to read; partners on reading programmes and poetry events.
• Literature WalessupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational organisation for literature in Wales; partners on poetry promotion in Wales.
• Poetry ArchivesupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerDigital archive of poetry recordings; partners on the Poetry Archive Now programme with over 20,000 audio recordings.
• ArvonsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCharity providing creative writing workshops; offers free online creative writing workshops for ages 7+ to adult.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• English PEN: UK literary and human-rights charity supporting writers and freedom of expression through awards, programmes, and advocacy. Comparable as a UK literary-arts nonprofit with overlapping donor base, awards programmes, and writer-development remit.
• National Literacy Trust: Larger UK literacy charity addressing reading and writing across age groups. Comparable as a UK education-and-literacy charity with overlapping programs in schools; confirmed partner of Forward Arts Foundation on young writers programmes.
• The Reading Agency: UK charity inspiring people of all ages to read, including poetry-themed reading programmes. Comparable as a UK reading-and-literacy charity with overlapping audience and partner base; confirmed partner of Forward Arts Foundation on reading and poetry events.

Direct peers

• Apples and Snakes: England's leading spoken-word poetry organisation producing live performances, education, and artist development. Comparable as a UK poetry-promotion charity with particular strength in the spoken-word and performance segment — directly relevant given Forward's new Forward Prize for Best Single Poem – Performed.
• First Story: UK charity placing professional writers in schools to run creative-writing workshops with young people. Directly comparable as a school-focused poetry/literacy charity; confirmed partner of Forward Arts Foundation on young writers programmes.
• The Poetry Society: UK national poetry membership charity promoting poetry through competitions, events, and education. Directly comparable as a UK poetry-promotion nonprofit with overlapping programs in schools, public events, and prizes, and is a confirmed strategic partner of Forward Arts Foundation.
• Scottish Poetry Library: Scotland's national poetry library providing poetry resources, events, and education. Directly comparable as a national poetry charity with overlapping education, event, and resource-distribution programs; confirmed partner of Forward Arts Foundation.
• Royal Society of Literature: UK charity supporting writers and literary culture through awards, events, and education programs. Comparable as a UK literary-arts charity running recognized awards (the RSL Ondaatje Prize, etc.) and education outreach; addresses overlapping donor and audience segments.
• Poetry Book Society: UK charity that curates poetry recommendations and distributes poetry books to members. Directly comparable as a poetry-focused charitable organization that publishes curated poetry selections and supports the poetry ecosystem; confirmed partner of Forward Arts Foundation.

Regional players

• Literature Wales: National organisation for literature in Wales, promoting writers and literature across Wales. Comparable as a national poetry/literature charity serving a specific UK nation with overlapping education and promotion programs; confirmed partner of Forward Arts Foundation.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@forwardartsfoundation1575
• Facebookfacebook.com/forwardprizes
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/forward-arts-foundation
• Instagraminstagram.com/forwardprizes

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about FORWARD ARTS FOUNDATION