Black and Asian Writers Conference 2016

Aim

The 8th Black and Asian Writers Conference & Festival returns to Manchester with provocative panel discussions and stellar performances

What is it? 

The 8th Black and Asian Writers Conference & Festival will be the biggest yet. Taking place on Saturday  8th October, this year’s programme includes panels, stalls, performances, interviews, conversations, ruminating, crystal-ball gazing, and an evening festival including stellar performances. This year's conference theme is: Poetry of Adoption, Adoption of Poetry.

Provocative panels will include an array of literary and performance talents including: Javaad Alipoor, Siana Bangura aka FKA Bangz, Kavita Bhanot, Nii Parkes, JJ Bola, Adam Lowe, Keisha Thompson, Yolanda Mercy, Benji Reid, Desiree Reynolds, Radikal Queen, Dr Sandeep Parmar, Yomi 'Greeds' Sode, Dawn Walton and many more.

Discussion topics for the day include: Afrofuturism, flash fiction, digital and immersive poetry, new directions in theatre, the black aesthetic, mental health in black writing and many more. There will also be an illustration and comic book exhibition at Central Library. 

The evening festival will be opened up by the winners of our monologue competition, based on this year's conference theme. Four BAME writers: Christina Fonthes, Seni Seneviratne, Claire Hynes and Lucy Chau-Lai Tuen will perform monologues, exploring adoption and family in modern Britain. This competition has been run in partnership by Cultureword: helping black writers become more successful; Black Gold Arts Festival: celebrating black theatre talent in the North and giving it a higher profile; and Contact: Britain’s leading youth theatre.

Panel sessions will take place in various venues in central Manchester. The evening performances will take place at Contact.

Keep an eye on our website to see a full list of panels, panellists and locations. www.cultureword.org.uk/bawc16.

#BAWC16 @BAWConf @Cultureword

Why do we need you?

 We need your help to ensure that our conference brings an array of outstanding BAME writers to engage in discussions that emerging and established writers alike can start a conversation with. The money raised will be used towards panellist fees and travel expenses. We firmly believe that all artists should be paid for their time and your contribution will support us to put this into practice. We will be having 40 panellists at our day time conference travelling from across the country and some from across the world. A contribution from you will ensure that we are able to bring the best writers to Manchester for the biggest Black and Asian Writers Conference to date.

What will you get?

 As a thank you for your support, we will be offering a range of rewards including: early bird conference passes, limited edition postcards and posters, editorial service and one-to-one writing advice sessions. 

 Who are we?

Cultureword is a writing development organisation based in Manchester, providing opportunities for new and aspiring writers to develop their talent and potential.

Our competitions, workshops and events act as a point of focus for many writers seeking encouragement and confidence. From small beginnings in 1977, we have grown into the largest new writing, community writing and publishing organisation in the North West. We work  on  regional, national and international levels, promoting new writing and helping new writers become more successful.

We are a National Portfolio Organisation, receiving funding from Arts Council England.  We are part of the UK’s vibrant cultural sector. The cultural sector bring communities together and make lives richer. It also creates economic growth and jobs: it is one of the fastest growing sectors of the economy.

Commonword have a small core staff team and also engage a number of freelance staff to help us deliver our programme.

*Please note our early bird passes do not provide access to Lemn Sissay's evening performance at Contact, Manchester. You can book tickets to see Lemn here

This project successfully funded on 4th August 2016