New Writing North is the writing development agency for
the north east of England (the area covered by Arts Council England
North East). We aim to create an environment in the north east of
England in which new writing in all forms can flourish and develop. We
are a unique organisation within the UK, merging as we do individual
development work with writers across all media with educational work
and the production of creative projects. We work with writers to develop career opportunities, new
commissions, projects, residencies, publications and live events.
We work in partnership with a broad range of organisations,
universities, local authorities, regional development agencies,
sponsors and media producers to develop opportunities for writers in
our region.
We manage the Northern Writers' Awards and, until its discontinuation, managed the Northern Rock Foundation Writer’s Award, which was the largest literary award in the UK and worth £60,000 to the winning writer. Through our day to day work, we support writers at all stages of their careers
by career mentoring and by the creation of professional development
training initiatives and projects.
We work in partnership with writers, theatres and producers to develop
new writing for the stage and have initiated work and new commissions
with many of the theatre companies in our region and helped to set up
many initiatives and new posts.
Though our international work we aspire to create partnerships and
projects for writers from our region with international counterparts.
We are currently developing projects in Bulgaria, Siberia and the Czech
Republic.
We run a wide-ranging education and community programme which involves
the development of creative projects with writers and young people both
inside and outside of schools. We also train writers to work with young
people and our writers in schools programme works with individual
schools, Education Action Zones and Creative Partnership Programmes to
undertake innovative work with young people.
We are working with Orange to develop activities for young writers aged
11-18 to help develop the next generation of creative writers in the
region.
We also publish writing from young people and the community, playtexts, fiction and poetry.
MISSION STATEMENT
New Writing North exists to create an environment in the north east of
England in which new writing in all genres can flourish and develop.
We will do this by:
* Identifying and developing talent
* Working creatively with writers
* Developing the writing economy in the north east of England
* Promoting regional literature internationally
* Developing partnerships
* Innovative work within the education and community sectors
* Developing audiences
* Developing new venues for literature
* Information and promotion
HOW NEW WRITING NORTH IS MANAGED
We are a registered charity and a company limited by guarentee and as such have a board of trustees.
Trustees/company directors for 2007-2008 are as follows:
CHAIR
Jonathan Blackie
(Regional Director of Government Office North East)
VICE CHAIR
Steve Chambers
(writer)
BOARD MEMBERS
Steve Bishop
(North Tyneside Council)
Ann Coburn
(Writer)
Steve Dearden
(Writer and literature specialist)
Charles Fernyhough
(Writer)
Jeanne Hale
(Creativity and Culture Advisor at Newcastle City Council)
Adam Lopardo
(Director, The Sponsors Club)
Martin Parker
(Northumbrian Water)
Ros Rigby
(Performance Programme Director, The Sage Gateshead)
Wendy Scott
(‘Inspire’ public art programme manager, Wansbeck District Council)
Michael Seeney
(Eaga Partnership)
THE STAFF OF THE ORGANISATION
Director: Claire Malcolm
Claire Malcolm was the first director of New Writing North and began work with the company in 1996.
Prior to working for New Writing North she was the literary manager at the West Yorkshire Playhouse in Leeds where she worked with artistic director Jude Kelly to develop new writing. She has worked for a range of arts organisations including the York Mystery Festival and the University of York’s King’s Manor Gallery.
She has been a judge of the Mayer Whitworth Award, the John Whiting Award and the Raymond Williams Prize for Community Publishing for Arts Council England. Consultancy work in the field of literature includes work with Arts Council England, Hi Arts and the Scottish Book Trust. She has chaired literary events at festivals and spoken on new writing issues at many events and conferences including the London Book Fair.
Claire has served as a board member for many organisations in the North East including Live Theatre, Mslexia Publications and the Northern Cultural Skills Partnership. She is currently a board member of Nomad, an arts and media organisation which supports work with diverse communities.
Claire is a graduate of the Newcastle Common Purpose programme and is currently studying for an MA in Cultural Leadership at City University, London. She is currently a Specialist Advisor for Literature for the Scottish Arts Council.
Deputy director: Anna Disley
Anna Disley (previously Summerford) joined the New Writing North team in September
2002. Prior to this she had worked for Arts Council England
North East as a drama officer, for Northern Stage as programmer and for
Arts Admin in London.
Finance and Administration Manager: Catherine Robson
Catherine joined New Writing North in January 2006, with five years of admin experience, working mostly for Durham County Council. She also worked in Greece for a year teaching English and has a degree in English from Lancaster University.
Projects and marketing officer: Olivia Mantle
Olivia Mantle joined NWN in February 2008, after working for Blake Friedmann Literary Agency and Puffin Children’s Books. Olivia has a BSc in International Relations from the London School of Economics and is half-French.
Web editor and publishing production co-ordinator: John Adair
John Adair joined the New Writing North team as a freelancer in March
2003 following a move from London to Tyneside. He is the former editor
of Moving Pictures magazine and former web editor of Screen International.
New Writing North
Holy Jesus Hospital
City Road
Newcastle upon Tyne
NE1 2AS
