About us
Led by Professor Andrew McMillan and Dr Nikolai Duffy, we are experts in the practice of poetry writing and critical theory in poetry, with a focus on modern and contemporary poetry.
We have six world-leading professors of poetry, together with a number of award-winning poets and critics, including:
- Brian Sneeden
- Dame Carol Ann Duffy, the former UK Poet Laureate from 2009 to 2019
- Andrew McMillan
- Helen Mort
- Antony Rowland
- Jean Sprackland
- Michael Symmons Roberts
- Kim Moore
- Malika Booker
- Nikolai Duffy
- Anjum Malik
Our poets have won international awards in their field, including the Costa Prize, the Forward Prize and the TS Eliot Prize. They have been on judging panels for poetry prizes and their honours include Fellowships of the Royal Society of Literature, the English Association and a damehood for the former Poet Laureate.
Our connections with broadcasters, theatres, opera companies, galleries, universities and other cultural organisations make us one of the leading centres for poetry both nationally and internationally.
The UNESCO City of Literature network is another important connection, as we are a founder partner of Manchester’s successful UNESCO bid.