Lemn Sissay

Lemn Sissay is author of five books of poetry and has appeared in many anthologies. He reads poetry on stages throughout the world. He is an honorary Doctor of Letters and was awarded the 2010 travelling award scholarship from the Society of Authos. His play Something Dark, directed by John McGrath, was the winner of a Race in the Media Award (RIMA). Internal Flight is a television documentary about his life in care and subsequent journey to Ethiopia where he found his family, made by the BBC.

Sissay is associate artist at Southbank Centre, Europe's largest arts complex. Sissay curated the world's first Literature Festival of the Sea. His Landmark Poems are displayed on the walls and streets of Manchester and London. In London they adorn the Royal Festival Hall; "Gilt of Cain", commissioned by City of London was erected near Fenchurch Street Station and was unveiled by Bishop Desmond Tutu. He was the first poet to write for the London Olympics 2012 and his poem "Spark Catchers" remains onsite today. Lemn is patron of the Reader Organisation and the Letterbox Club. He is education ambassador for the Arvon Foundation and Trustee of World Book Night. All details can be found at http: //www.lemnsissay.com