The Festival for Working-Class Writers unveils Penguin Random House as headline sponsor for 2023

The Festival for Working-Class Writers has announced Penguin Random House (PRH) will be its headline sponsor for 2023.

In 2021 the event reached over 700,000 people through live and online events according to director, author and Bookseller Rising Star Natasha Carthew, and included coverage in the national press, radio and TV.

Writers that attended included Paul Mendez, Joelle Taylor, Douglas Stuart, Mohsin Zaidi, Anita Sethi, Val McDermid, Terri White, Laura Henry-Allain, Cole Moreton and Yvonne Bailey-Smith, and the event included workshops with The Women’s Prize and Arvon Foundation.

Carthew, who guest edited the the Working-Class Special edition of the Bookseller — launched today — said: “I’m incredibly grateful to PRH for acknowledging the importance of the festival, it means we can build on the work we did in 2021, by enhancing, encouraging and increasing representation from working-class backgrounds across the country, while connecting authors, readers, agents and editors.

“The Working-Class Writers Festival will not only provide a platform for Working-Class Writers, but will continue to set precedence among festivals that will make attendance more affordable and accessible to all.”

The 2023 festival and its engagement programme aims to showcase stories reflective of, and relatable to, the experiences of working-class communities. The programme’s activities have been designed to be physically and financially available to audiences with different financial pressures and outside of the usual literary venues. 

Scheduled to run in autumn 2023, it will take place in physical and digital spaces, and will include panel discussions, speaker events and workshops.

Zaahida Nabagereka, head of social impact at PRH, added: “We are delighted to be working with Natasha and her team as the headline sponsor of the Working-Class Writers Festival. 

“The festival is an important opportunity for writers from working class backgrounds to come together to learn, connect and grow in their craft. Now is an urgent time for publishers to do more to support writers from working-class and lower socio-economic backgrounds to navigate the industry and remove barriers to them getting published. 

“This includes PRH and as part of our sponsorship, we will provide in-kind support such as editorial feedback sessions and are looking forward to meeting and learning from writers.”

Carthew is looking for further funding and is keen to hear from publishers and industry professionals who are interested in the opportunity to be festival sponsors, alongside Penguin. She can be reached at workingclasswritersfestival@gmail.com.