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'Green poet' to visit Island

Thursday, 5 February 2015

Martin Kiszko

The UK's ‘green poet’, Martin Kiszko, will encourage local schoolchildren to ponder the future of the planet when he visits schools this month. 

Martin is best known among young readers for his books ‘Green Poems for a Blue Planet’ and the follow-up ‘Verse for the Earth’, both illustrated by four-times Oscar winner Nick Park, of Wallace and Gromit fame. 

Martin is Green Poet in Residence in Bristol this year as it celebrates being Europe’s green capital. He has appeared on BBC1 children’s programme Blue Peter and has won a string of accolades and awards for his projects. 

Martin is also an award-winning composer and screenwriter who has created more than 200 scores for film and TV and recorded with eight major orchestras. 

Well-known TV signature tunes he has penned include Newsround, Omnibus and Wildlife on Two. He composed the music for the 2008 film The Killing of John Lennon. Other diverse accolades include working as music consultant for the computer game of Aardman Animations’ The Curse of the Were-Rabbit and composing a national anthem for Antarctica. He has judged both BAFTA and Ivor Novello awards. 

He will conduct workshops at three schools – Ramsey Grammar School on Tuesday 24th February, Castle Rushen High School on Wednesday 25th February and Ballacottier Primary School on Thursday 26th February. 

Martin’s visit to the Island is sponsored by the Isle of Man Arts Council

Caroline Savin, School Improvement Adviser with the Department of Education and Children, said:

‘We are delighted that the Arts Council has agreed to fund Martin’s visit and give some of our pupils the chance to work with such a multi-talented person and watch him perform.

‘We are keen to promote reading for pleasure in order to continue to raise achievement in reading and writing and we feel that Martin’s unique style will appeal to those who may be reluctant to engage with different forms of literature such as poetry. 

‘Martin will be working with a range of pupils, exploring form and comedic content within a poem and looking at rhythm, pace and expression. Pupils will be encouraged to write and perform their own poems based on green issues, which will hopefully inspire them to read a wider range of literature and to continue to create their own.’ 

For more information on Martin, visit www.greenpoemsforablueplanet.com

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