Louise Doughty launches BAME scholarship crowdfunding campaign

Apple Tree Yard (Faber) author Louise Doughty has launched a crowdfunding campaign to raise money for three BAME creative writing scholarships.

Backed by figures including Faber c.e.o. Stephen Page and authors Val McDermid, Laline Paull and Bernadine Evaristo, the crowdfunding campaign aims to raise a miminum of £5,000 to cover the cost of the course fees for the creative writing MA at the Univesity of East Anglia, where Doughty herself studied.

Doughty, author of eight novels, said that taking the MA course at UEA "turned [her] into a novelist", and added that she would "love to help other writers have access to that opportunity".

"A quarter of the writers who are offered places on the MA in Creative Writing at the University of East Anglia are obliged to turn down their places due to lack of funds" she said. "The purpose of this scholarship is to offer funds to talented students from a BAME (Black and Minority Ethnic) background who are in financial need and may not otherwise be able to take up their places on the course."

She added: “The purpose of this scholarship isn’t just to fund talented BAME writers – it’s to say loud and clear to potential applicants, this course, this career, is for you.”  

The campaign has already raised 56% of its £45,000 target. Donations can be made here.