We have more in common…

28 Sep 2017

Our Chancellor Lemn Sissay’s poem celebrates diverse community of Old Trafford

Our Chancellor Lemn Sissay has seen one of his poems help celebrate the diverse community of Old Trafford.

His words are intertwined in a piece of community street art, funded by Trafford Housing Trust, installed on the Prestage Street-Langshaw Street intersection.

The mural – designed to bring the community together and celebrate the rich diversity of the area – is a collection of different birds suggested by residents, representing the different cultures and countries of origin in the community, with Manchester bees alongside them.

Lemn’s poem draws on the themes of diversity, unity and community spirit:

Said the sun to the moon

Said the head to the heart

‘We have more in common

Than sets us apart’

The work was organised and commissioned by local residents Hannah Paterson and Jess Lishak, who is also the University’s Communications and Engagement Officer at Policy@Manchester.

The artist local resident Russell Meehan (Mural Life/Qubek), who was commissioned by the Manchester Evening News to paint a mural in June to commemorate the people who died in the Manchester bombing with 22 Manchester bees.

The piece was created at a community event attended by more than 150 residents – Russell painted the mural while local group The Back GALLERY ran a children’s bird-themed art class.

Jess said: “Although we organised this project months ago, the need for things like it has become even more poignant and evident following the horrific attack at Manchester Arena. It was inspiring to see the community come together in the immediate aftermath, but some of our Muslim neighbours also told us of increased hostility and discrimination from a small selection of people (often not from Manchester themselves) which just highlights for me why we need to send a strong message of unity and celebrating the diversity that brings so much to our area.”