ASSOCIATION OF HUNGARIAN RECITERS IN ENGLAND
The Association of Hungarian Reciters in England (AMVE) is a cultural community of Hungarians living in the United Kingdom. It was established to preserve and pass on the tradition of Hungarian poetry and prose recitation, to keep our mother tongue alive, and to build a community through Hungarian literature.
For a long time, organised Hungarian recitation and performance art were missing in the United Kingdom, while in Hungary this genre is an integral part of cultural life. Recognising this gap, the Association was founded in 2017.
Since its establishment, our mission has been to nurture and preserve the Hungarian language within the UK Hungarian community, and to promote Hungarian literature across all generations – from the youngest to the oldest. We believe that Hungarian poetry becomes a true community-building force when spoken aloud, connecting us wherever we live in the world.
Today, the Association has become an essential part of Hungarian cultural life in the diaspora. We are especially proud that both young and old carry forward the tradition of Hungarian recitation, creating a new home for the Hungarian word in England.
Our most important annual event is the József Attila Poetry and Prose Recitation Competition, organised each year on the occasion of Hungarian Poetry Day. Children and adults alike can showcase their talent by performing works freely chosen from Hungarian literature.
OUR VISION AND MISSION
A message from Beáta Verbászi, President of the Association
The Association of Hungarian Reciters in England is a community where the spoken word takes flight again, and where the Hungarian language finds a home even far from its homeland.
Our reciters preserve and pass on everything poetry represents: identity, strength, tradition, and uplifting beauty. Each performance is a quiet promise: that wherever Hungarians may live, they will always find their way home through poetry. They are the ones who, with faith and humility, give voice to what generations have carried in their hearts.
The Association is not just a community of performers – it is a spiritual bridge in the diaspora, bringing culture to life and illuminating every moment when poetry takes the stage.
We can be grateful to them, as their work is not only art, but also service: a service to the Hungarian soul in the heart of England. With deep respect and heartfelt pride, I reflect on the journey that led to the founding of this Association. It is an honour to have laid the foundations of Hungarian recitation here in the United Kingdom. What once began as a heartfelt calling has now grown into a true movement.
Seeing our community grow, and witnessing the Hungarian word finding a new home in England, means more than success to me. Watching the rhythm, strength, and beauty of the Hungarian language connect generations across distances is an invaluable gift – one of the most beautiful fulfilled dreams of my life.
Today, we are supported by a community where both young and old carry forward the light of Hungarian poetry. This mission requires not only dedication and faith, but also the strength of community.
I am deeply grateful to the committed teachers, mentors, and reciters who walk this path with me. Without them, this community could not exist – a community that now provides a sense of belonging, strength, and spiritual support to all who find themselves through Hungarian poetry.
We live in heroic times and are creating tradition. I believe that if we plant the seeds well now and build strong foundations, the fruits of our work will flourish for decades to come – here in the heart of England, nourished by the power of the Hungarian word.
„You know well, the poet never lies:
tell the truth, not just what is real,
the light that makes our minds shine –
for without each other, we remain in darkness.”
József Attila