News | Tuesday, 21st March 2023
University alumnus appointed as Writer-In-Residence at Manchester Cathedral
Poet Tom Branfoot will deliver creative writing projects and work with local charities
Poet and Manchester Metropolitan alumnus Tom Branfoot has been appointed as Writer-In-Residence at Manchester Cathedral.
As part of his Writer-In-Residence role, Branfoot will be developing and delivering creative writing projects, working with local charities and communities, and producing original work inspired by the cathedral’s archives.
Branfoot, who graduated with a BA (Hons) English and American Literature at Manchester Writing School at Manchester Metropolitan University in 2020, has started in the part time role at the cathedral which will run as a pilot scheme for one year.
The role aims to raise the profile of Manchester Cathedral within the literary community of Greater Manchester as well as increasing engagement with creative activities at the Cathedral.
Branfoot said: “As a young writer it feels slightly surreal being appointed as Writer-in-Residence at such an impressive and historic institution as Manchester Cathedral. I am excited to organise poetry and creative writing workshops within the community and work with the Manchester Writing School which provided me with foundational knowledge for my writing career.”
I am excited to organise poetry and creative writing workshops within the community and work with the Manchester Writing School which provided me with foundational knowledge for my writing career.
A spokesperson from Manchester Cathedral said: “We are delighted to announce the appointment of Tom Branfoot as Writer-In-Residence at Manchester Cathedral. We look forward to shaping the project with Tom over the coming months as he explores the interpretation and writing of poetry with a variety of local communities.”
As part of his Writer-In-Residence role, Branfoot will be working with Volition Community, a charity which aims to help unemployed people secure a job through training, and upskilling. Branfoot will run a series of workshops on poetic voice which will focus on contemporary writing from marginalised voices.
Branfoot will also be working closely with the University’s Manchester Writing School, the largest writing school in the UK led by former poet laureate Professor Carol Ann Duffy, to organise a series of poetry workshops in partnership with the Cathedral during the year.
Since graduating in 2020, poet and writer Branfoot has been awarded the 2022 New Poets Prize with This Is Not an Epiphany, which will be published by Smith|Doorstop in June 2023. His writing has been published in Washington Square Review, The Babel Tower Notice Board, Murmur, and other publications. His debut pamphlet, I’ll Splinter (2021), is published by Pariah Press.
