Over the next year, the Isle of Man Art Society (IOMAS) and the Isle of Man Poetry Society (IMPS) will be working together to create a printed publication. This publication will consist of 80 creations in total, with half coming from each society.

In order to match the 20 participating poets of IMPS, IOMAS needs a minimum of 20 artists and a maximum of 40. The maximum number of pieces that will be created by any one person is two.

If you are a member of both societies, you will have to decide within the sign-up form if you will be joining as a poet or as an artist. 

The idea is that each poet and artist will be paired up. They will both submit a piece for their corresponding artist or poet for them to then create a reactional piece. Dependent on how many artists sign-up, the roles of creator and reactor may have to be split so that one poet is assigned to two artists. If you are signing up as an artist, you will be asked if you have a preference for the role of creator/reactor should the splitting of the two roles occur.

The following are key dates:

Sign-up deadline: 11:59PM on the 18 October 2026
Social Date: TBC- In the event that artist roles are being split up, information about this will be provided on/before this date.
First submission deadline – Own Piece: Wednesday 16 December 2026 (Time TBC)
Artist and Poet Pairings announced at a Social Gathering: Wednesday 13 January 2027 (Time TBC). Artists need to bring their physical pieces so that poets can accurately react to the pieces and so that all artwork can be photographed for the publication. All poets need to submit their work electronically, alongside providing a copy that is accessible for their artist.
Second Submission deadline – Reaction Piece + 50 Word Poet/Artist Biography: Wednesday 14 April 2027 (Time TBC). All biographies are to be submitted electronically. Artists need to bring their physical pieces so that all artwork can be photographed for the publication. All poets need to submit their work electronically.

Publication is expected to occur approximately 2 months after all pieces have been handed in and will be available to buy online via Clayhanger Press (our publisher), as well as other establishments such as Waterstones. At this point in time, we hope that locally-owned book-shops will also stock this publication but we cannot confirm this at this time.