Books / Poetry
Bristol has a new City Poet
Bristol’s second ever City Poet Vanessa Kisuule says that she “can’t wait to capture all the things that make this city so unique” in her new role.
The spoken word artist and poet will follow in the footsteps of current City Poet Miles Chambers when she is officially appointed to the role at a Bristol Festival of Ideas event in May.
A statement from the panel who picked Kisuule – Bristol mayor Marvin Rees and his policy assistant Annabel Smith; Bristol Festival of Ideas’ Andrew Kelly, Amy O’Beirne and Zoe Steadman-Milne; and Chambers – said she was selected “due to her unique artistic voice and experience of working and interacting with local communities in Bristol”.
is needed now More than ever
Kisuule’s role of City Poet will see her composing 10 poems over the course of the tw0-year role, and attending special events and community engagement activities.
She said: “I believe poetry can start conversations and preserve important stories so I can’t wait to engage with a multitude of Bristol residents with poetry through this post.”
Rees added: “Miles has set an incredibly high bar as the first poet to adopt the role, and I’m confident that Vanessa will do a fantastic job of picking up the mantle of capturing the soul of the city.
“The City Poet is an important part of Bristol’s cultural offer, and I am looking forward to seeing how Vanessa makes the role her own.”
Photo by Ailsa Fineron
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