Landmark Poetry
On Wednesday 9 May, celebrated writer and broadcaster Lemn Sissay MBE will be discussing Landmark Poetry at the University of Leicester’s 7th Annual Creative Writing Lecture.
Lemn Sissay is the author of several books of poetry alongside articles, records, public art, and plays. Sissay released his first book of poetry in 1988 at the age of 21, and has been a full-time writer since the age of 24. His works include Rebel Without Applause (1992) and Listener (2008).
The lecture, which is free and open to the public, will take place at the University of Leicester’s George Davies Centre, Lecture Theatre 1 at 6.15 pm.
Sissay was the official poet for the 2012 London Olympics and 2015 FA Cup. His Landmark Poems are installed throughout Manchester and London in venues such as The Royal Festival Hall and The Olympic Park.
Alongside his written works, Sissay is also a regular contributor to TV and Radio, with works including the 2005 drama Something Dark and the 1995 BBC documentary Internal Flight.
He is Chancellor of the University of Manchester, associate artist at Southbank Centre, patron of The Letterbox Club and The Reader Organisation.
Dr Harry Whitehead, Associate Professor of Creative Writing, said: “I am delighted that the brilliant and globally renowned poet and author Lemn Sissay is offering this year’s Annual Creative Writing Lecture. We look forward to warmly welcoming one of the most iconic BAME writers in the UK to Leicester’s uniquely diverse city, and to our university, which was recently estimated to have the highest proportion of BAME students in the country.
“Lemn will be speaking on Landmark Poetry, something the University of Leicester and the Centre for New Writing is working actively to develop, both here on campus and across the city. The event is completely free and open to everyone. Do just turn up on the day for this unique and one-off event. I want to thank Santander Universities, whose kind donation has made the lecture possible.”
The School of Arts celebrates creative writing in all forms through its annual Literary Leicester festival and Centre for New Writing. The Centre for New Writing at the University of Leicester was established to diversify literary voices beyond the metropolitan mainstream.