We're pleased to announce that the following writers will be taking part in the International Literature Showcase, starting at London Book Fair this week! Find out more about them by visiting their profiles below:
Ros Barber, Richard Beard, Hannah Berry, Christopher Brookmyre, Jessie Burton, Kayo Chingonyi, Kit de Waal, Laura Dockrill, Bernardine Evaristo, Caleb Femi, Leontia Flynn, Gavin Francis, Janice Galloway, Harry Giles, Niven Govinden, Nick Harkaway, Alexandra Harris, Kathleen Jamie, Stephen Kelman, Melissa Lee-Houghton, Amy Liptrot, Jo Mazelis, Graeme McCrae Burnett, Patrick McGuinness, Helen Mort, Sarah Moss, Neel Mukherjee, Tiffany Murray, Banjamin Myers, Courttia Newland, Catherine O'Flynn, Sandeep Parmar, James Robertson, Ross Sutherland, David Szalay, Una, Sophia Walker, Joanna Walsh, Christie Watson, Louise Welsh
The second wave of writers and literature organisations involved in this year’s International Literature Showcase (ILS) have been announced today. The list, which includes Jessie Burton, Kit de Waal, Neel Mukherjee, Sarah Moss and Amy Liptrot, as well as Fitzcarraldo Editions, The Poetry Exchange, Seamus Heaney Centre and Scottish Book Trust, will add to an exciting line-up of writers and organisations already participating in the 10-month programme which launched in October.
Run by Writers’ Centre Norwich, the British Council and Arts Council England, the ILS supports selected UK writers and literature organisations to promote and export their work across the world through events, special commissions and an online platform. Free to access, this online space is designed to bring together the global professional community to share expertise, build collaborations and showcase Britain’s vibrant literature scene.
To date, the ILS has published over 50 articles online, each month focussing on a different topic affecting writers and literature professionals, from translation to education, activism to international working. As a result, the website has received over 32,000 page views since launch and registered over 3.7K messages via its associated chat platform. It has attracted visitors from countries as diverse as Russia, India, Australia, China, Kenya and Azerbaijan, with its most popular articles by Tom Abba and Sophia Walker exploring digital and performance literature.
Between October and February, the ILS has awarded £12,000 in commissions for original work tackling issues from Brexit and Trump to the ways technology helps literature travel. With submissions covering poetry, tech projects, graphics and essays, the collection demonstrates the fantastic array of creativity and talent in the UK today and will be published online alongside the ILS’ other curated content, podcasts and Twitter Q&As.
Chris Gribble, Chief Executive of Writers’ Centre Norwich, said: “We are delighted to welcome this new tranche of writers and organisations to the ILS programme, as we continue to showcase the best literary Britain has to offer. Having already established a fantastic online platform to bring together the global literature community, we are excited to see the new work, collaborations, connections and ideas still to come.”
Cortina Butler, Director of Literature at British Council said: “Through the International Literature Showcase we are pleased to support British writers to help them to find new audiences for their work and gain international experience. Litshowcase.org is a great resource for Literature professionals around the world who want to keep up to date with the latest developments in writing from the UK, providing a useful starting point for new programmes and collaborations.”
Focusing on emerging and mid-career talent, writers were selected from 369 applicants via an open, peer-nominated selection process to represent the broad cross-section of UK creativity. In total, 80 writers and 50 literature organisations will be supported through the programme. Activity culminates in June 2017 with a major international exchange taking place in Norwich, England’s first UNESCO City of Literature.
