Connor Sansby is a poet, publisher, events producer and social artist based in Margate, Kent. As a performer, he has visited stages all over the South of England – Kent, London, Sussex, Essex – won a few slams and headlined dozens of gigs.
In 2019, Connor was an Associate Artist at Open School East, concentrating on neurodivergency in the arts.
Connor is perhaps most known for Whisky & Beards Publishing. Whisky & Beards was founded in 2014. Since then, it has gone on to publish some of the biggest rising stars in contemporary poetry and helped shape dozens of careers. In 2019, Whisky & Beards was shortlisted for Most Innovative Publisher in the Saboteur Awards. In 2020, Whisky & Beards was longlisted for the same award.
Connor was the Tom Thumb Theatre poet-in-residence, where he helps promote shows by national touring acts, as well as hosting Tongue Punch, a monthly showcase of poetry. In 2019, Tongue Punch was a Special Mention in the Saboteur Awards for Best Regular Night. He also hosts the Kentish Poetry Championship, a county-wide slam partnered with Margate Bookie. The Bookie Slam now also regularly features as part of Faversham Literary Festival to sold-out crowds. In the past, he has organised events for Margate Soul Festival, ran a poetry micro-residency scheme for Margate Festival (in 2018 and 2019 as part of the Turner Prize Festival) and co-produced WinchesterFest, a 102-long online festival in response to the global pandemic, which drew over 80,000 viewers.
Connor has also been shortlisted for the DYSPLA Storymakers residency for neurodivergent writers.