International Mother Language Day at Manchester Poetry Library
Sarah-Clare Conlon, Literature Editor
Manchester’s newest library, Manchester Poetry Library will be celebrating International Mother Language Day on Thursday 23 February with free events and refreshments provided in the library.
Manchester Poetry Library will be hosting its very first Multilingual Open Mic Poetry Session, when audience members are invited to share a poem in any language.
From 1pm to 3pm, bring along a children’s poetry or picture book in any language and share it in the informal, fun family Love To Read session. Children of all ages are welcome at this relaxed session, which will also feature colouring and writing activities in the library. This is a drop-in activity, and there is no need to book.
From 6pm to 7pm, Manchester Poetry Library will be hosting its very first Multilingual Open Mic Poetry Session, when audience members are invited to share a poem in any language – simply say which language you wish to read in when you register – and the poems can be your own or written by someone else. Places at this event are free, but limited, so do register to attend via the link provided. Places to read will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.
You are also welcome to drop in any time from 10am to 4.30pm to view special displays of books from the co-curated language programme, including Farsi poetry recommended by the audience at last year’s event and a special Bengali poetry display that considers the roots of International Mother Language Day. Mother Tongue Other Tongue 2023 will also be launched – a free-to-enter poetry competition open to young people aged eight to 18 wishing to celebrate their mother language or to be creative in a language they are learning.
