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The Working Class Writers' Festival is urging publishers to demonstrate their commitment to diversity by investing in sponsorship for next year's event.
Recently shortlisted for The Bookseller FutureBook21 Discover Award, the event is based in Bristol and boasts "a far reaching ambition to enhance, encourage and increase representation from working-class backgrounds across the country, while connecting authors, readers, agents and editors". The festival is now on the lookout for sponsorship funding to ensure it goes ahead in 2022.
The inaugural 2021 event, also referred to as Class Festival, took place last month and was a mix of in-person and virtual activity and included panel discussions with both prize-winning and debut writers, masterclasses in collaboration with the Women’s Prize and the Arvon Foundation, workshops, readings, discussions and book signings. The four-day festival involved 60 writers and speakers including Sarah Shaffi, Anita Sethi, Tony Walsh and Terri White long with editors, publishers, broadcasters, journalists and top literary agents.
Artistic director Natasha Carthew said: “Commissioning and showcasing writers of all styles and disciplines is at the heart of this festival, providing a platform for both established and debut writers to get involved with both live and online events. In one year, the Working Class Writers' Festival has not only provided a platform for working-class writers, it has set a precedent among festivals that will make attendance more affordable and accessible to all.”
To find out more, publishers can contact Carthew on workingclasswritersfestival@gmail.com. For more information visit the website.