Anita Govan

Anita Govan is a neurodiverse spoken word poet, performer, and teaching artist based in Edinburgh. She is profoundly dyslexic, living with ADHD, and on the Autistic spectrum. Anita curates and hosts Lost in Leith presents: Spoken Word & Music, a monthly event showcasing creative talent from across Scotland. She was previously Stirling Makar from 2012 to 2015 and her first collection, Jane, was published by Luath Press in 2005. She also co-founded the Scottish Youth Poetry Slam in the early 2000s. Anita’s work has appeared on TV and radio featured by STV, Sky TV, Sunny Govan Radio, BBC Radio Scotland, and BBC Radio 7. She has held multiple residencies, including Poet-in-Residence for UNESCO in 2023 and ITAC3 in 2016. As a teaching artist, Anita sees poetry as an exciting and powerful tool for people of all ages and backgrounds. Inspired by her own experience of struggle at school, Anita encourages young people with specific learning difficulties to develop their own creative practice with her participatory, flexible, and inclusive approach to teaching. She is listed on the Scottish Book Trust’s Live Literature List offering services in facilitation for workshops and courses, and creating unique found poetry commissions at live events, including business conferences, seminars, and community projects. She is currently available for individual residencies or a series of workshops.