Arts centre offers residency as part of Working Class Writers Festival

Bristol arts hub and charity Knowle West Media Centre (KWMC) is seeking a writer who identifies as working-class to participate in a mini residency as part of the centre's Working Class Writers Festival.

The residency will involve engaging the local community through workshops and creative activities, alongside creating new work in collaboration with participants.

Applicants should have experience of working in communities, and artists at all stages of their careers across various creative writing genres are welcomed. The position is funded by Arts Council England.

Martha King, art producer at the centre, said: "During this period of social distancing and emerging from lockdowns we, like many other events organisers, are being responsive and flexible with programming. We hope to respond to this challenge creatively, exploring ways that residencies and engagement might be held in hybrid, and digital ways. We look forward to seeing responses to this in applications. We would accept proposals to be ‘in residence’ virtually if you are not able to come to Knowle West in person."

The festival, which runs from 22nd to 24th October and will be accessible and affordable to attend, is commissioning and showcasing working-class writers of all styles and disciplines, providing a platform for those who are already established as well as those making their debut. Writers set to appear include Val McDermid, Paul Mendez, Mohsin Zaidi, Patrice Lawrence, Tony Walsh, Cash Carraway, Courttia Newland and Joelle Taylor among others. 

Festival artistic director Natasha Carthew said: "I am delighted that the Working Class Writers Festival is teaming up with the Knowle West Media Centre to commission a writer in residence in Bristol for 2021. There are many ways that a writer in residence can impact on their community; forging links with the public and fellow writers, promoting creative development at the heart of the community and by fostering cultural engagement that responds to the immediate needs and interests of all its people, with the brilliant KWMC at the helm, I know this will have significant benefits for future generations."

The deadline for applications is 6 p.m. on 22nd September.