I created Poetic Places back in 2015 with the aims of sharing literature in unexpected moments, making something new, and creating something that any organisation with a small budget could replicate with honest and open documentation.
I’m delighted to say that the project has done all that and more. Since its launch in May 2016 the Poetic Places app has been downloaded over 11,000 times, received a huge amount of positive feedback, and even inspired a Canadian version. I’ve talked to hundreds of people about the project at various events and cafés, shared what worked and what didn’t, and hopefully helped a few other projects find their way with bit less fumbling than we did.
Sadly it’s time to say goodbye to Poetic Places—the app will soon stop working. The original project and its funding ran out in 2016; I haven’t found the resources to expand substantially on those efforts since then and it’s costing too much money for me to keep maintaining it on my own when it’s not growing. Hopefully there’ll be an opportunity to reboot Poetic Places at some point in the future but it’s farewell for now. I’m sorry to see Poetic Places go but I’m happy that it did what it set out to do and has reached so many people.
If anyone reading this would like to discuss any part of the Poetic Places project or suggest some funding opportunities to revive it, you can get hold of me via my company site at timeimage.org.uk
My thanks to the British Library (and particularly Stella Wisdom) for their support in making Poetic Places happen.
Thank you all for your interest and support.
Sarah Cole
(December 2019)