Hay Festival announces 2024 Writers at Work cohort

Hay Festival Global has announced the 2024 participants of Writers at Work, a creative development programme for emerging Welsh talent. 

Established in 2016 to nurture writing in Welsh writing, Writers at Work was paused during the Covid-19 pandemic. This year will mark its sixth year.

The scheme, which is supported by Literature Wales and funded by the Arts Council of Wales, offers a week of creative development opportunities at Hay Festival, where the selected writers can attend masterclasses and workshops with publishers, agents and "established international artists".

This year’s participants are: Taylor Edmonds, Dylan Huw and Katie Munnik, Hammad Rind, Isabel Adonis, J L George, Joshua Jones, Megan Angharad Hunter, Rachel Dawson and Zoë Brigley. The programme is run by writer Tiffany Murray, whose latest book, My Family and Other Rock Stars, will be published by Fleet in May.

Participants to date have achieved a spread of award wins and shortlistings for prizes including the International Dylan Thomas Prize, Wales Book of the Year, the New Welsh Writing Award, the Wasafiri New Writing Prize, the Wales Media Award, the Welsh Rising Star Award and the Creative Wales Award.

Hay Festival chief executive Julie Finch said: “Hay Festival Global is a convener of writers, readers and – crucially – creative opportunities. As one of Wales’ largest cultural institutions we are proud of our Welsh roots and take our responsibility to the cultural landscape of Wales seriously. We are delighted to showcase our Writers at Work 2024. This year’s programme of activities will meet the challenges Wales’ emerging creatives face today, guarding and growing our creative impact for the future.”

Leusa Llewelyn, artistic director at Literature Wales, added: “Congratulations to the 10 writers selected to take part in the highly coveted Writers at Work opportunity this year. It was a privilege to read so many high-quality applications from Welsh writers, and to be introduced to a wide variety of voices and themes. The creative energy among the applications was palpable, and they were all full of ambition and eagerness to further their professional careers. We look forward to seeing how the writers develop from the wonderful offerings of Writers at Work 2024.”