Poet, producer, multi-disciplinary writer.
Connor Sansby is a Poet, Artist, and Producer. Since 2013, Connor has performed across the South of England, including Margate Soul Festival, Wise Words Festival and London’s Let’s Kill It. He is the winner of the 2024 Rosemary McLeish Poetry Prize, and the recipient of a Arts Council England Developing Your Creative Practice Grant.
Since the release of his debut collection “Promise Me The Journey Back” in April 2018, Connor has been reconnecting with his hometown and his relationship with the sea. His second collection “Where The Land Forgets Itself” is out now and touring nationally, along with a collaborative pamphlet with former Kent Poetry Champion Ciaran Barata Hynes; "I, The Burning".
In 2025, I wrote a rules-Lite TTRPG on neurodiversity Your Diagnosis Comes With A Free Sword, which aims to support people as they come into their neurodivergent idenitty, away from shame or "autism is a superpower" pressures.
HIGHLIGHTS
2014 – 2024 Editor-in-Chief – Whisky & Beards Publishing
Grassroots artist-centric poetry publishing house. Published 22 books from e-book to pamphlet to self-published to traditional published.
Arts Council England Cultural Recovery Grant
Arts Council England Project Grant
Shortlisted “Most Innovative Publisher” Saboteur Awards 2019
Longlisted “Most Innovative Publisher” Saboteur Awards 2020
2019 Open School East – Associate Artist
Part of a year-long cohort of artists supported by NPO Open School East. During this year, I established an interest in expanding how poetry is presented to include immersive arts, sculpture and installation, which led to the reciept of a Developing Your Creative Practice Grant from Arts Council England
2017 – 2020 Thanet Writers – Poetry Editor/Contributing Editor
Curated a weekly poetry submission and wrote hundreds of articles on practicing poetry and writing, including over 50 articles on poetry forms.
2018-2020 Tom Thumb Theatre – Poet-in-Residence
Helped promote regular events with some of the countires leading poets, including Salena Godden, Luke Wright and Rob Auton, as well as running monthly local showcase Tongue Punch, longlisted for “Best Regular Spoken Word Night” Saboteur Awards 2019.
2020-2020 WinchesterFest – Lead Producer
A 102-day long online poetry festival during COVID-19 lockdowns, reaching over 80,000 unique viewers.
2023-NOW Kent Poetry CIC – Director
A non-profit developing the community and industry of poetry in the South East by building collaborations and partnerships, raising funding and promoting events.
Arts Council England Project Grant – Kent Poetry Championship Tour & Poeticon
A four date tour of poetry slams across the county, as well as a grassroots conference aimed at emerging poets, featuring the Directors of Verve, Hammer & Tongue and Apples & Snakes.
Connor Sansby is a Poet, Artist, and Producer. Since 2013, Connor has performed across the South of England, including Margate Soul Festival, Wise Words Festival and London’s Let’s Kill It. He is the winner of the 2024 Rosemary McLeish Poetry Prize, and the recipient of a Arts Council England Developing Your Creative Practice Grant.
Since the release of his debut collection “Promise Me The Journey Back” in April 2018, Connor has been reconnecting with his hometown and his relationship with the sea. His second collection “Where The Land Forgets Itself” is out now and touring nationally, along with a collaborative pamphlet with former Kent Poetry Champion Ciaran Barata Hynes; "I, The Burning".
In 2025, I wrote a rules-Lite TTRPG on neurodiversity Your Diagnosis Comes With A Free Sword, which aims to support people as they come into their neurodivergent idenitty, away from shame or "autism is a superpower" pressures.
HIGHLIGHTS
2014 – 2024 Editor-in-Chief – Whisky & Beards Publishing
Grassroots artist-centric poetry publishing house. Published 22 books from e-book to pamphlet to self-published to traditional published.
Arts Council England Cultural Recovery Grant
Arts Council England Project Grant
Shortlisted “Most Innovative Publisher” Saboteur Awards 2019
Longlisted “Most Innovative Publisher” Saboteur Awards 2020
2019 Open School East – Associate Artist
Part of a year-long cohort of artists supported by NPO Open School East. During this year, I established an interest in expanding how poetry is presented to include immersive arts, sculpture and installation, which led to the reciept of a Developing Your Creative Practice Grant from Arts Council England
2017 – 2020 Thanet Writers – Poetry Editor/Contributing Editor
Curated a weekly poetry submission and wrote hundreds of articles on practicing poetry and writing, including over 50 articles on poetry forms.
2018-2020 Tom Thumb Theatre – Poet-in-Residence
Helped promote regular events with some of the countires leading poets, including Salena Godden, Luke Wright and Rob Auton, as well as running monthly local showcase Tongue Punch, longlisted for “Best Regular Spoken Word Night” Saboteur Awards 2019.
2020-2020 WinchesterFest – Lead Producer
A 102-day long online poetry festival during COVID-19 lockdowns, reaching over 80,000 unique viewers.
2023-NOW Kent Poetry CIC – Director
A non-profit developing the community and industry of poetry in the South East by building collaborations and partnerships, raising funding and promoting events.
Arts Council England Project Grant – Kent Poetry Championship Tour & Poeticon
A four date tour of poetry slams across the county, as well as a grassroots conference aimed at emerging poets, featuring the Directors of Verve, Hammer & Tongue and Apples & Snakes.
Current Project
0
Backed projects this year
20 pledges away from 2026 Star Backer