The Legislative Buildings have become home to the Manx Bardic Chair following the revival of the tradition to appoint a Manx Bard annually in acknowledgement of the Island’s poetic heritage.

Bridget Carter is responsible for the Manx Bard initiative and heads the Manx Bard committee. She said: We're delighted with the response to the Bard concept so far; it has really captured the public's imagination.
 
‘2014 saw a year-long celebration of the Isle of Man as an “Island of Culture”. Supported by the Isle of Man Arts Council and the then Department of Community, Culture and Leisure, this was the most extensive and inclusive cultural festival in the history of the Island and for the Manx Bard – with the opportunity to be elected spokesperson of an entire country with its own ancient parliament – it is a great honour indeed.’
 
‘The Manx Bard will be the winner of an annual competition to find the Isle of Man’s most worthy poet. The Bard will continue a tradition upheld by Iron Age, Celtic and Druid societies, which afforded Bards a position of high status in their community alongside the law makers, judges, ceremonial leaders, prophets, healers and members of religious and mystical circles.
 
‘The position of Manx Bard is a unique opportunity to take part in building a prestigious cultural legacy for the island, helping to promote and enhance our reputation as an estimable contributor to the world of culture and Madam President has kindly agreed to have the chair permanently sited in the Legislative Buildings. 
 
‘The first Manx Bard title of 2014 was given posthumously to T E Brown but 2015 sees our first living Bard, the second Manx Bard, being elected and we are all very excited.’

The chair has been created by Graham Hall, a wood turner and sculptor originally from Northumberland who crafted the chair from one piece of white sycamore. ‘When I sourced the wood in the Lake District I knew it was very special and at first considered using it to turn a set of bowls. When I heard about the Bardic Chair, though, I thought this magnificent piece of timber would be perfect for it.

 ‘When I set about designing the chair, I wanted to evoke the effect of a beacon of light emerging from the ground. I like creating, energetic contemporary pieces, so my interpretation for the chair has been for an understated, simple piece with few lines and no embellishments, save the hand-carved lettering by Simon Capelan who also designed the staff. Poetry resonates with me and the words are taken from T.E.Brown’s poem Spes Altera.

‘I feel extremely privileged to have been given this opportunity and have found the idea of reviving the tradition of the Manx Bard very inspiring.’

 The President of Tynwald, the Hon Clare Christian, said: ‘I congratulate the Manx Bard committee in launching the Manx Bard award at Litfest last year along with the Bardic Chair, staff and robes and I am delighted that we will be housing the chair here in the Legislative Buildings so that it can be seen by everyone visiting the Tynwald precincts. The chair is a beautiful piece of craftsmanship and artwork which will come, in time, to be widely recognised as representing what is best of another aspect of our culture, our poetry. It is exciting that this new venture has emerged from the Island of Culture year and I hope that it will strengthen the growing interest in writing poetry.’

Chairman of the Isle of Man Arts Council Geoff Corkish MBE MLC added: ‘The initiative of a Manx Bard annual competition and award is another worthy legacy for our Island to embrace and one that has been inspired through our Year of Culture. It will be a most valued and prized title for our Island residents to aspire to and will bring forth further contribution to our rich and evolving culture. I offer my congratulations to the Manx Bard committee who conceived this exciting concept.’

The 2015 and each subsequent Manx Bard will be inaugurated in the Bardic Chair wearing robes designed by Linda Davies.
 
Photo - (left to right) Graham Hall, the President of Tynwald the Hon Clare Christian, Linda Davies, Hazel Teare, Geoff Corkish MBE MLC, Bridget Carter and Janet Lees. (Photo courtesy of Paul Dougherty, Tynwald Seneschal).