Becky Swain

Becky Swain is the Director of Manchester Poetry Library at The Manchester Metropolitan University.1 She is an accomplished professional with a diverse background in education, arts, and literature.

Education and Professional Background

Becky holds a Bachelor of Arts in English and Inter-arts from Bretton Hall College, Leeds University, and a PGCE in English with Drama from Newcastle University. Her career has spanned various roles in prestigious organizations, including:

• Head of Learning and Participation at Arvon
• Learning Manager at Creativity Culture and Education
• Learning Manager at Creative Partnerships
• Education Officer at UCL - Bloomsbury Theatre
• English Teacher at Walker School

Current Role and Achievements

As the Director of Manchester Poetry Library, Becky is leading the development of the North West's first public poetry library, which opened in 2021.1 The library aims to celebrate the power of poetry and create a space for everyone interested in or curious about poetry.2

Becky is recognized for her expertise in arts education and creative writing. She is:

• A Clore Fellow (2009)
• A Fellow of the Royal Society of the Arts
• A member of the Advisory Group and Young Poets' Stories, a poetry writing development research project12

Vision for Manchester Poetry Library

Under Becky's leadership, the Manchester Poetry Library focuses on:

• Celebrating the many languages of the city
• Working with communities to co-curate collections
• Developing partnerships with poets, literature, arts, and community groups
• Creating a space for reading, hearing, performing, writing, and discussing poetry1

Becky Swain's commitment to education, arts, and literature has positioned her as a key figure in promoting poetry and fostering creativity in Manchester and beyond.