Arji Manuelpillai
Poet I Performer I Creative facilitator
I’m a poet, performer and creative facilitator based in London.
For over 15 years, Arji Manuelpillai has worked with community arts projects both nationally and internationally. This experience has given him the privilege of collaborating with some of the world’s most interesting people. From prisons and immigration removal centres to schools and youth clubs, he has continually pushed creativity and self-expression.
Arji’s strengths lie in his ability to connect with people from all walks of life, to empathise, and to build lasting bonds. He prides himself on his talent for inspiring and encouraging self-expression through an array of games and exercises developed over years of working with drama, storytelling, music, and creative writing.
He believes deeply in the value of every art form and is a passionate advocate for the power of the arts to strengthen relationships within communities across the world.
Alongside his work as a creative facilitator, Arji is also a published poet.
His debut pamphlet, Mutton Rolls, was published by Out-Spoken Press in 2020, and his debut collection, Improvised Explosive Device, was released in autumn 2022. The highly acclaimed book was featured in The Telegraph’s Top 20 poetry books of the year and The Guardian’s best recent poetry section. It was also the Winter PBS selection and was shortlisted for the Derek Walcott Prize.
I’m a great believer in poetry out of the classroom, I want to see poems in the local market, on the bus, on the backs of toilet doors, I want to see poetry everywhere.'
“A safe creative space full of fun and good vibes. Absolutely no judgment from anyone regardless of their poetry level, published or unpublished.”
– Tuesday Gale, Participant in online poetry workshops
My Ethos
Writing and facilitation have always gone hand in hand for me.
My multi-disciplinary workshops draw on my rich knowledge of music, storytelling, drama and poetry.
For me, the process, not the product, is the most important aspect of creativity.
I’ve been running creative workshops for over 15 years working with every age group in multiple different countries across the world. Throughout that time my major goal as a facilitator has been to create playful, joyful spaces where participants feel safe and secure. By doing this, I am providing the space to inspire creativity. I’ve taken this approach into prisons, immigration removal centres, schools, youth clubs and other educational settings.
I believe everyone has creativity inside of them.
I believe that ‘play’ can have longterm health benefits.
I believe that creativity can change lives.
Companies I have worked with include:
Over 15 years of experience
Winner of the Jerwood/Arvon mentorship
Published Poet
Degree in Drama and English from University of Hull
Knowledge of production tools including Logic Pro X, imovie and Garageband
Associate Artist at Kazzum Arts, Magic Me and Emergency Exit Arts
DBS checked for over 15 years
Trauma Enformed Practice through 5 days training with Kazzum Arts
Bamboozle Special Education Needs training
Many years experience and training of working with individuals in the Immigration System
