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| New Writing South | |
|---|---|
| Name | New Writing South |
| Formation | 1996 |
| Type | Literary organisation |
| Headquarters | Brighton, East Sussex |
| Region served | South East England |
| Leader title | Director |
| Leader name | Sarah Crown |
New Writing South New Writing South is a literary development organisation based in Brighton, East Sussex, supporting writers across the South East of England. It runs workshops, mentorships, festivals and publishing projects to promote emerging and established authors in the region. The organisation engages with schools, libraries and community groups to foster creative writing and to connect writers with literary networks and cultural funders.
Founded in 1996 amid a surge of regional cultural initiatives such as the Arts Council England funding programmes and the rise of organisations like Writers' Centre Norwich, New Writing South emerged alongside institutions including Southbank Centre and Poetry Society. Early collaborators and patrons included figures associated with BBC Radio 4 programming, Royal Society of Literature events and regional projects commissioned by Brighton Festival. The organisation developed during the same period that saw the expansion of National Literacy Trust interventions and the growth of festivals such as Hay Festival and Cheltenham Literature Festival. Over time it built relationships with partners including University of Sussex, University of Brighton, Goldsmiths, University of London and local councils such as Brighton and Hove City Council and East Sussex County Council. Its trajectory intersected with initiatives by Arts Council England grant rounds, philanthropic support from trusts like Paul Hamlyn Foundation, and collaborations with media outlets such as The Guardian, The Observer and The Independent. The organisation’s history reflects trends visible in projects supported by Heritage Lottery Fund, Aldeburgh Music residencies, and regional development agendas seen in documents by Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport.
The stated mission aligns with aims promoted by bodies like Arts Council England and charitable foundations exemplified by Esmee Fairbairn Foundation, focusing on writer development, community engagement and public events. Activities mirror programmes run by Arvon Foundation, Faber Academy and Literature Wales, offering workshops, mentorships and competitions. It operates in contexts where organisations such as British Library, National Centre for Writing and Poetry School also support professional development. Programming often complements regional cultural hubs like Octagon Theatre projects, municipal library services including Brighton Jubilee Library, and initiatives by National Literacy Trust. The organisation’s events have featured writers linked to institutions including Royal Court Theatre, American Library in Paris, and media partners like BBC Radio 3 and BBC Arts.
Signature programmes recall models used by Arvon Foundation residentials, Royal Society of Literature mentoring schemes and Galley Beggar Press partnerships. Initiatives include mentorships akin to schemes from Royal Literary Fund, youth outreach comparable to First Story and school residencies similar to Read Manchester projects. It runs competitions and showcases in the manner of Costa Book Awards panels and collaborates with festival organisers such as Brighton Fringe and Latitude Festival curators. Workshops have been co-delivered with university departments at University of Kent, University of Surrey, and with cultural venues like Komedia and Jubilee Library. Collaborative projects have involved performance partners like Old Vic Theatre, publishing partners including Faber & Faber and community partners such as Age UK and Barnardo's.
The organisation publishes anthologies and pamphlets comparable to collections from Bloodaxe Books, Salt Publishing and Picador. Anthologies feature contributors from networks including alumni associated with Manchester Metropolitan University, University of East Anglia, Royal Holloway, University of London and independent presses such as Carcanet Press. Collections have showcased poets and prose writers whose contemporaries appear in journals like Poetry Review, The Rialto and Granta. Editorial approaches reflect standards seen at Canongate Books, Jonathan Cape and Bloomsbury Publishing, while distribution has been undertaken through bookshops including Waterstones and independent retailers similar to Mr B's Emporium of Reading Delights.
Funding streams mirror those available to peer organisations funded by Arts Council England, with project support from trusts such as Paul Hamlyn Foundation, Jerwood Charitable Foundation and Esmee Fairbairn Foundation. Partnerships include collaborations with academic institutions like University of Sussex, University of Brighton and Goldsmiths, University of London, cultural venues such as Brighton Dome, media partners like BBC Radio 4 Extra and festivals including Hay Festival and Cheltenham Literature Festival. The organisation has worked with local authorities such as Brighton and Hove City Council and national bodies including Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport on regional literary initiatives. Corporate and philanthropic support has at times come from entities oriented like National Lottery Heritage Fund grant schemes and private trusts exemplified by Wolfson Foundation.
Critical reception places the organisation within a network of regional literary producers alongside Arvon Foundation, First Story and National Centre for Writing, noted in coverage by outlets such as The Guardian, The Telegraph, The Independent and literary blogs referenced by The Bookseller. Its alumni have gone on to publications with houses including Faber & Faber, Penguin Random House, Bloomsbury Publishing and appearances at festivals such as Hay Festival, Cheltenham Literature Festival and Edinburgh International Book Festival. Reviews and commentary have appeared in periodicals like New Statesman, Times Literary Supplement, Literary Review and Prospect (magazine), while work developed through the organisation has been considered for prizes comparable to Costa Book Awards, T. S. Eliot Prize and Women’s Prize for Fiction. Community impact has been evaluated in partnership reports referencing schemes from National Literacy Trust and education-focused initiatives akin to Read on. Get on. policies.
Category:Literary organisations based in England