Abstract
In this interview with Anouk Lang, the poet Richard Grant discusses his journey to becoming a professional performance poet: how he first came into contact with the dub poetry scene at university, his time as the Birmingham poet laureate in 2005-06, and his work with other spoken word poets at festivals, performances and school workshops around the UK. Topics covered include the role of live poetry in a culture in which sales of print publications are falling and new technologies are enabling writers to reach new audiences, poetry as a tool for confronting social issues such as racial conflict, the task of the poet laureate in relation to the city and the community, and generational, cultural and class divides in the contemporary British arts world.