Anthony Anaxagorou

Anthony Anaxagorou (born March 1983) is a British born poet and writer.

Anaxagorou was the first young poet to win the London Mayor's Poetry Slam with his poem "Anthropos" in 2002. Following this he made a number of television and radio appearances reading poetry including a live recital on BBC London Radio and a television interview followed by a recital with Vanessa Feltz on the Community Channel.

In 2003, he appeared alongside fellow poet Kate Tempest on Young Nation, presented by Richard Blackwood, where he performed a number of poems themed around social issues relating to young people. He went on to feature as a member of the panel on the talk show itself which focused on wider issues such as racism, history, religion, addiction and abuse, encouraging young people to speak out and voice their thoughts.

Early life

Anthony Anaxagorou is of Cypriot origin. His mother is from Nicosia and his father from Famagusta. He grew up between North and East London.

Career

Anaxagorou is the writer/poet in residence in several London schools where he devises programs to help engage students who are regularly underachieving due to low literacy rates. He is also the artistic director and founder of Out-Spoken, London's premier monthly night of poetry and live music. He is also the chief editor and founder of Out-Spoken Press which published his most popular collection A Difficult Place To Be Human. He works with the Poetry Society assisting in numerous creative writing projects and mentoring other young poets in developing their ideas and expressing themselves through a positive creative medium. He speaks extensively about the arts and elitism and how they impact the perception many people have of poetry.