The Norwich Showcase
Press Release
30th January, 2012
Writers’ Centre Norwich and British Council present: The Norwich Showcase
An international showcase of the best in writing and literature development in the UK
Norwich, 9-13 March, 2012
Featuring: Naomi Alderman - Siddhartha Bose - Sarah Dunant - Joe Dunthorne - Adam Foulds - Lavinia Greenlaw - David Harsent - Kathryn Hughes - Anjali Joseph - Robert Macfarlane - Tom McCarthy - Jon McGregor - Kei Miller - Don Paterson - Rebecca Stott - George Szirtes - Tom Warner - Evie Wyld and many more
Over five days in March 2012 Writers’ Centre Norwich and British Council present a new international platform for the best in writing and literature development in the UK.
Hosted in venues across Norwich and on the campus of University of East Anglia – home of the UK’s oldest and one of the world’s leading Creative Writing courses – delegates from twenty countries working in literature, publishing and festival programming will encounter forty of the freshest, most exciting voices in contemporary writing in the UK, along with a selection of dynamic UK literature organisations. Together they will explore new ways of collaborating and sharing best practice in literature development.
The British Council is the UK’s leading cultural relations organisation, and has the arts at the heart of many of its projects globally. Working in over 100 countries in the arts, education and English it works with UK writers, poets and the literature sector to develop collaborations and high-quality events around the world.
The Norwich Showcase has been developed to promote writing from the UK and professional and creative exchange in the international literature sector. It is an experiment in mutual inspiration, partnership and new possibilities.
The programme consists of a series of readings, panel discussions and performances dedicated to excellence in fiction, creative non-fiction, poetry and performance from writers working in the UK today. British literature development organisations will share their passion and expertise with international colleagues, and following the Showcase a development fund will be available to help generate new work between the participating writers and organisations.
Susie Nicklin, Director Literature, British Council said:
"Many of the writers in the Norwich showcase have worked with the British Council on our international programmes. I am delighted that both they, and those with whom we are hoping to work in the future, will be part of this crucible to forge new relationships with UK and overseas partners. Literature is a collaborative and collegiate enterprise and the assembled team, particularly our partner Writers’ Centre Norwich, will strengthen extant relationships and create more."
Chris Gribble, Chief Executive, Writers’ Centre Norwich, said:
"Through Writers’ Centre Norwich, UEA and the British Centre for Literary Translation, Norwich is a national centre of creative writing and literature development expertise. In 2012 we hope to become England’s first UNESCO City of Literature. We’re excited and honoured to be working with British Council on a new international showcase for writing and literature development."
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Editor’s Notes
Photograph: Evie Wyld at the University of East Anglia. Copyright: Martin Figura.
More photographs and interviews available on request
Contacts
For further information please contact:
Writers’ Centre Norwich, 14 Princes Street, Norwich, NR3 1AE
For more information about the British Council contact:
Alex Bratt
+44 (0) 207 389 4872
Writers' Centre Norwich seeks to lead on the exploration of the artistic and social power of creative writing through pioneering and collaborative projects with writers and other partners, regionally, nationally and internationally.
The British Council is the UK’s international organisation for educational opportunities and cultural relations. We create international opportunities for the people of the UK and other countries and build trust between them worldwide. We work in over 100 countries in the arts, education and English and in 2010/11 we engaged face to face with 30 million people and reached 578 million. We have 6,800 staff worldwide. Our total turnover in 2010/11 was £693 million, of which our grant-in-aid from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office was £190 million. The remainder was generated through trading activities such as English language teaching. For every £1 of taxpayer money invested we earn £2.65 in additional income.