Centre for South West Writing

The Centre for South West Writing exists to promote the appreciation of the region’s many important creative writers. Located in the School of Arts, Languages and Literatures it brings together expertise from both the Streatham and Tremough campuses of the University of Exeter. Read more about our staff.

At its heart are the Special Collections of books and manuscripts by South West writers, including John Betjeman, Agatha Christie, Daphne du Maurier, Ted Hughes and Henry Williamson. The Centre aims to work with Academic Services to supplement existing holdings and to develop the infrastructure for students, researchers and visitors to use and enjoy the collections.

The Centre encourages interactions with the local business and heritage communities, and it serves the region through organising a programme of readings, workshops and conferences.

For further details, please contact Prof Tim Kendall

Panel images above provided by courtesy of Noel Chanan, Henry Williamson Estate, The Chichester Partnership and Special Collections, University of Exeter and are subject to copyright.

Latest

Hardy conference

Exeter English PhD students Will Abberley, Demelza Hookway and Rebecca Welshman are organizing an international postgraduate panel at the Thomas Hardy at Yale Conference, 2-5 June 2011 Conference. A CFP will be released later this year.

South West Writers Mentoring Project

Applications are invited for a new project for ten UK writers to be mentored by our two Writers-in-Residence. Click here for full details.

Appointment of two new Writers-in-Residence

The Creative Writing & Arts Programme, funded by Arts Council England South West, has appointed two Writers-in-Residence to develop Creative Writing across the SW region for two years. Novelist Clare George and writer/producer Paul Dodgson will build extensive regional and national links with diverse communities, helping our CW Programme to develop as a major centre for creative innovation and partnership within the South West. They will offer innovative creative provision with audiences and participants who might not ordinarily have arts access, as well as running a programme of Mentoring for some of the regionÕs most promising up-and-coming writers. Clare George has published two critically-acclaimed novels, The Evangelist (Sceptre, 2005) and The Cloud Chamber (Sceptre, 2003). Paul Dodgson has produced over 400 literature and drama programmes for the BBC, is an accomplished writer for television and radio, and also writes short fiction and music lyrics for TV, theatre and animation.

Grant success for the appointment of new Writers-in-Residence

The Creative Writing & Arts Programme has just been awarded an Arts Council of England 'Grants for the Arts' Award of £30,700 to appoint two new Writers-in-Residence. These Writers will act as providers, ambassadors and mentors for our Creative Writing activities across the region. Each Residency will be for two years, 30 days per year, beginning October 1st 2009. The two new Writers will build on our extensive existing partnerships, established over the past 7 years of funded Residencies, as well as developing new projects and partnerships. A part of each Residency be dedicated to a Mentoring project for selected applicants of merit from the region.

"The Lie of the Land": Readings from the Poetry of Patricia Beer

On 10 June 2009, a special event was held to mark the tenth anniversary of the death of Patricia Beer, and also celebrating the completion of the 'Writing Lives' cataloguing project in Special Collections. Click here for details..