The festival is set to welcome an incredible line-up of award-winning poets and artists, and tickets are on sale now!

We caught up with Nikky Nuttall, director of the Causley Trust, who was keen to tell us more about the Trust and why the festival, known previously as the Charles Causley Festival of Arts and Literature, is looking a little different this year.

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New beginnings…

Last year, the festival was cancelled due to lack of funding, a decision that wasn’t made lightly and meant that nine months of programme planning was brought to an abrupt halt.

“Last year was really disappointing,” Nikky said. “We got to that point where visitor behaviour had changed dramatically since Covid. When you add that extra layer of economic troubles, and the fact that times are really tight for a lot of people, we had to have a real conversation about if we should be doing this.” 

The Trust came together to discuss the future of the festival, and pinpoint exactly what it was that made the event unique.

“We looped back to what Charles Causley was all about,” she continued. “He was a poet; he was a supporter of the development of creative arts; he was a teacher who supported many people as they grew into men or women. So we came to the conclusion that he was about growth, opportunity and giving something back to his community.”

The arts has been proven to be of huge economic value to towns and cities across the country, but is sadly neglected when it comes to funding and support. It is artists and creatives who bring joy to our communities, whether in the form of painted murals echoing the spirit of a destination to welcome its visitors; live music for events such as carnivals and community celebrations; illustrations and designs for shop windows, pamphlets and maps; end-of-year school performances to demonstrate young talent; creative writing and storytelling to connect with our pasts and traditions - the list goes on. 

With this in mind, plus Charles Causley’s legacy and Launceston’s own historic significance, the Trust are hoping to expand their work to ensure the town is put on the arts and literature map. 

“There’s so much untapped potential in Launceston and we want to match that with what Causley stood for,” Nikky said. 

After the festival was cancelled in 2024, Nikky was contacted by a couple living up-country with links to Cornwall and Launceston. With a strong belief in the Trust’s vision, they wanted to help, and pledged an investment to kickstart the festival for 2025. For the Trust, which receives very little funding, the team sprung into action. With help from Luke Thompson at Guillemot Press and Danny Devanny at Falmouth University, a group of poets have come together to perform at this year’s festival. There is now a melting pot of both internationally renowned and newly published writers, community engagers and volunteers who are the backbone of the very first Launceston Poetry Festival, sparking a new and exciting start for the Trust. 

In addition, grants from Cornwall Community Foundation, FEAST, private donations and sponsorship from WBW Solicitors, plus support from local businesses and organisations such as The Byre, David Scott at Merchant House, Comical Entertainment, the Eagle House Hotel, and Launceston Town Council, means the festival will be able to put on a huge programme of events, workshops and entertainment for the whole community to enjoy. 

Nikky said: “The Causley Trust is about exploring what we can bring to Launceston. Our job is to promote the life and legacy of Charles Causley, while supporting the development of creatives. When people think of creativity in Cornwall, they often think of the west, but our ambition is to put Launceston on the map as a creative writing destination. 

“We pride ourselves on creating warm, welcoming spaces for everyone and we’re actively encouraging people to come into the town, because we know it’s only one conversation that can turn someone’s life around.”

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What to expect…

This year’s festival is set to be a feast for the creative. Visitors can expect free community activities, workshops, pop-up mentoring, open mic nights, a Sound and Light installation exploring the landscape between the Tamar Valley and Launceston, a small art exhibition at Merchant House, and, for the very first time, a link to the much-loved Poetry Pharmacy. 

Set up by Deb Alma in Shropshire, the Poetry Pharmacy links art and health in an exciting project that encourages people to look to creative expression to aid their wellbeing. For the first time, Deb has given the Causley Trust permission to create a pop-up outpost of the Poetry Pharmacy in Merchant House for the duration of the festival, where visitors can receive poetry recommendations, buy medicine-style bottles of poetry capsules, and be signposted to festival events or resources for support if they are struggling. It is important to note that the Trust team is not qualified to deal with mental health problems, but the Poetry Pharmacy offers an uplifting experience for all. 

‘Rent a Poet’ is also new to the festival this year, with visitors able to have a poem typed from scratch, right in front of them. 

Headliners for this year’s event include comedian and poetry enthusiast Frank Skinner, and up-and-coming talent Ella Frears. They will be joined by the likes of Pascale Petit, Daljit Nagra, Sue Wallace-Shaddad and many more literary names. 

Residents of Launceston have the chance to buy a Launceston Locals Pass, giving them access to events throughout the festival weekend for a discounted price, and people are encouraged to join in with heaps of free community activities. 

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Why support the Causley Trust…

After what Nikky described as an ‘unbelievably challenging time’, the Trust is hoping to plant their feet firmly in Launceston’s historic soil, bringing about new creative opportunities and community events for everyone to enjoy. 

Nikky said: “Charles was extraordinary as a writer, and we don’t shout about him enough. The potential we have in Launceston to put him on the map is massive, but we can only do this with the support of the community.”

For more information about the Causley Trust and Launceston Poetry Festival (29th May - 1st June), go to https://causleytrust.org/ or follow them on social media. 

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