Future and Form
The university, with Arts Council England funding and backing from key regional cultural organisations, has commissioned six leading writers (representing prose, poetry, script and children’s fiction) – Ayòbámi Adébáyò, Mona Arshi, Tash Aw, Imogen Hermes Gowar, Mitch Johnson and James McDermott – to explore the interface between contemporary literature and creative technology. Over nine months they will work alongside creative technologists, local young people, schools and key cultural organisations to find new ways to create, share and experience literature and storytelling. The interactive work will be displayed online and in a region-wide exhibition in Norwich in spring 2021.
International Chair
This new position will be offered to five prominent writers over five years from Africa, the Americas, Asia, Australasia and the Middle East, each with a year-long remit to find, nurture and promote emerging voices from that region. The Chair will be supported by UEA’s creative writing department to deliver a programme of events, masterclasses and workshops. The International Chair programme will be complemented by Global Voices scholarships, offering 50 fully paid places on UEA’s competitive MA course over five years. The first International Chair will be announced in 2020.
The Global Voices scholarship initiative will complement UEA’s Creative Writing programme’s significant new and existing scholarships, bursaries, and prize offerings, with support from, among others, the Booker Prize Foundation, the Miles Morland Foundation, the Kowitz Family, Malcolm Bradbury Trust, John Jarrold Trust, Annabel Abbs, John Boyne, Curtis Brown, Little, Brown, The Novelry, Ink Sweat & Tears, the Birch Family and the UEA BAME Scholarship.