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Partnership with Manchester City of Literature leads to exciting commissions
Manchester Poetry Library is marking World Poetry Day with a video commission with Manchester City of Literature
New poetry recited in Manchester’s iconic doorways is planned to mark World Poetry Day, followed by a global digital tour of its partner literary cities.
The Manchester Poetry Library at Manchester Metropolitan University and Manchester City of Literature have commissioned new pieces on the theme of the door as a portal, and a number of talented poets from the region will be filmed reciting them in well-known Manchester doorways to celebrate the city’s vibrant poetry scene.
The film – released on World Poetry Day (March 21) – will also feature a new reading from poet, artist and video filmmaker Imtiaz Dharker, who has been asked to write a series of poems to celebrate the opening of the Manchester Poetry Library.
A number of Manchester Metropolitan University’s internationally renowned poets will also be reading their work on social media in the lead-up to the day.
Held annually, World Poetry Day celebrates one of humanity’s most treasured forms of cultural and linguistic expression and identity.
Becky Swain, Director of the Manchester Poetry Library, said: “Working in partnership with Manchester City of Literature, we are delighted to be part of World Poetry Day. We hope you enjoy these stunning new poems on film that shine a light on what it means to be human at these times.
“In this extraordinary year, we have seen how poetry, more than ever, has been a powerful way of connecting our common humanity across the world. Our WRITE where we are NOW public poetry archive also continues to grow, with submissions arriving at the Poetry Library from far and wide.”
As a member of Manchester City of Literature, the Manchester Poetry Library has also invited its partner cities in the Creative Cities network to celebrate its opening by sending books, poems and photographs to make up a digital exhibition – forming an introduction to their city through poets’ eyes. This will go live following World Poetry Day.
Manchester Poetry Library will finally open its doors later this year, when COVID restrictions allow, as only the fourth such library in the UK. Open to staff, students, and the public, it builds on the University’s outstanding reputation as a home of poetry and creative writing.
In this extraordinary year, we have seen how poetry, more than ever, has been a powerful way of connecting our common humanity across the world
It will offer a collection of contemporary poetry, from books to recordings, in multiple languages, as well as a home for a co-curated public programme that celebrates language in all its diversity and where the next generation of writers and readers are made.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, it has developed a strong digital presence, hosting events, community initiatives and creative online projects to celebrate occasions such as World Poetry Day and February’s International Mother Language Day.
The film commission with Manchester City of Literature will feature Carnegie and Greenaway nominated writer Dom Conlon, who will be writing about unassuming and forgotten doorways; poet and theatre-maker Roma Havers who has previously been commissioned by Manchester International Festival, MLF, Manchester Histories and HOME, who will write about survival and joy; poet, producer and translator Ali Al-Jamri who will be writing about the gates at Albert Park and belonging; and Jerwood-Arvon nominee, writer and journalist Andrew Oldham who will write about the greening of urban spaces.
It will also feature specially commissioned poems from other UNESCO Creative Cities, Granada City of Literature in Spain and Slemani City of Literature in Iraq.
The filmed readings will be broadcast on Sunday 21 March as part of UNESCO World Poetry Day celebrations via YouTube and social media (@MCRCityofLit and @MCRPoetryLib).
The gifted books, poems and photographs will eventually form a physical exhibition in the Poetry Library, and through April will initially be shared digitally. From the markets of Bucheon to the Hallgrímskirkja church in Reykjavík to the world’s steepest street in Dunedin, this exhibition will introduce people to a new side of these cities.
The very first guest to ‘tour’ the exhibition will be Manchester Writing School’s Dr Adam O’Riordan, who will introduce the project and share some of his highlights.
He said: "Bucheon, Dunedin, Heidelberg, Krakow, Lviv, Melbourne, Milan, Odessa, Tartu, Ulyanavosk, Wonju, Leeuwarden, Reykajvik - simply saying this lovely litany of places names aloud takes you on a journey. And the very special combination of words and visuals found in this virtual exhibition will take you even further. There's so much here to be seen and felt and thought about, with a thrilling sense of travel and movement as you flow though the richnesses of place and language. An exhibition to be dipped into and returned to time and again."