Dunedin UNESCO City of Literature Poetry on Prescription

This inaugural event was held in support of International Mental Health Day on 10 October 2020, with the support of Poems in the Waiting Room (NZ):  a Dunedin based arts in health charity well respected for printing and distributing free poetry cards (currently 8000) every season to medical waiting rooms, rest homes, hospices and prisons throughout New Zealand.

Poetry has long been extolled for the power it has to uplift the spirit and soothe the soul. People were encouraged to visit the Poetry on Prescription ‘Clinic’ located in the Dunedin UNESCO City of Literature section on the Ground Floor of Dunedin City Library for a one-on-one injection of restorative and uplifting verse.

No appointment necessary – the poetry “doctors” (Ruth Arnison, Mira Harrison, Claire Lacey) had a thoroughly enjoyable time and made connections with their ‘patients’ in a unique way. This personal ‘consultation’ and sharing of poetry was well received by the many people (including children) who took part.

Everyone received a collectible poetic gift as a memento of their experience. Due to the positive feedback and overwhelming success of this first-time event, it is planned to repeat the ‘Clinic’ on an annual basis.

UNESCO Sustainable Development Goals​