Moving Manchester Commission

The poet John Siddique is the winner of the Moving Manchester creative writing commission for his sequence of poems ‘From a Seed to a Flower: five poems from real lives.’ The poems were based on interviews with migrants in and around Piccadilly and are accompanied by his own photographic images of his subjects. His work addresses the concept of a multiculturally imagined city through the voices of its citizens. John will perform his poems at the Moving Manchester conference in September.

It has been said of John Siddique that he is the ideal poet for twenty-first century Britain. Straddling the contemporary from an Anglo, Irish, and Indian heritage - his writing is direct and human, reflecting the world and people of today. His work has at times been compared to that of Philip Larkin and ee cummings, yet his voice is uniquely his own. His passion for sharing literature sees him drawing on the whole tradition of poetry and often creating and working in a whole range of places where you would not expect to find art. He has worked in prisons, schools, and hospitals, and is involved in promoting regeneration and renaissance through the creation of public art. He was recently commissioned to create a poem for the seaside town of Blackpool, which will be permanently installed by the sea . John is The British Council's Los Angeles Writer in Residence 2009.

He is well known for his captivating readings, and his ability to communicate with all types of audiences opening up the world of poetry and language. He often works with the Arvon Foundation, British Council, and The Poetry Society, and has been a visiting lecturer in The UK, Europe and USA.