1/9 🌎 🔥 That’s a wrap! our 25th Annual Festival theme couldn’t have been more prescient - throughout May we saw further evidence of climate emergency, an increase in censorship and nonsensical culture wars.
Our festival will end on a keynote speech, 'A Call to the Arts' by
@jeremycorbyn
on 31st May at 6pm, followed by a brilliant spoken word set by
@LeviTafariPoet
at 7.30pm ⬇️2/6
For the first time ever,
@MargaretAtwood
dystopian novel The Handmaid's Tale has been translated into Arabic by writer Ahmed Al Ali. Great news for helping to expand the conversations about injustice and inequality to women around the world.
TODAY is the DAY folks!
@akalamusic
is here for an insigtful in conversation with
@renireni
at
@TheBlackE
7:30pm (doors 7pm) for the launch of his brilliant book Natives: Race and Class In Ruins of Empire. were he will be speaking about his life & work
Congratulations to
@Joanne4Mayor
making history as Liverpool’s first black female Mayor. Everyone at Writing on the Wall are very proud for you and are looking forward to working with you, and wish you good luck in your new role.
Not long until
@jeremycorbyn
is at WoWFEST.
The man who brought mass membership of the Labour Party and became a virtual icon with movements like
#Grime4Corbyn
is coming live on Sunday at 6pm, giving his opinion on what is needed from the arts.
To mark the 40th anniversary of the Toxteth Riots Uprising we have produced this short film in which we speak to some of the giants from the community who have inspired others to continue the struggle for justice
@CultureLPool
@Mandela800
@Kuumba_Imani
Looking for a tiny gem in the centre of Liverpool!
As part of
#independentbookshopweek
we're showcasing 'Reid of Liverpool'. This amazing Georgian Book shop has been standing since 1973!! Enter this cave of books and know that you're going to leave with a quite a few treasures.
Now his family are paying tribute with some heartfelt words.
@BZephaniah
.
We are so proud to have them here with us in the city of Liverpool, where Benjamin and his family are so loved. We are are honoured that they have attended. 💕
RIP Professor Benjamin Zephaniah. 🙏
We are delighted to hear the news that
@CllrAnnaRothery
has been awarded Liverpool’s first Black Lord Mayor. She’s been a long time and ardent supporter of Writing on the Wall and our work with local communities, young people and schools. [1/2]
Rose Thomas is Liverpool's first black female novelist to be published. Her debut novel 'Bess' depicts the lives and traumas of members of Liverpool's black community from the 1940's on-wards.
Novel Available here -
#blacklivesmatter
'When
@KitdeWaal
was growing up in 1970s Birmingham, no one like her – poor, black and Irish – wrote books. Forty years on, the author asks, what has changed?'
It’s a sad day for us as we are saying goodbye to our Project Manager Ciarán Hodgers.
Working on 8 amazing festivals & a whole host of projects his warmth & humour has provided so much to the WoW community.
We are going to miss you!😭
Slainte Ciarán.
We're HIRING! 📣
L8 Archives – Project Archivist
This is an important role working to preserve, catalogue, digitise and promote the extensive L8 Archive Collection.
Find out more about the role on our website:
📣Massive Announcement 😱
Pulp Idol 2023 submissions are now OPEN!!
Get your writing seen by some of the UK's top agents, publishers and writers 🤩
Deadline: 19th August 2022
Submit your first chapter for a chance to be crowned Pulp Idol Winner 2023:
From Trainspotting to Filth, which is your favourite
@IrvineWelsh
book?
Join Irvine hosted by
@TheFarm_Peter
as he takes a look at the world we currently live in the importance of creativity.
Writing on the Wall have SUPER news! We are thrilled to announce we have been successfully awarded £239,000 by
@phf_uk
to expand our hugely successful Super heroes: Words are our Power project in schools in Merseyside. [1/3]
We are so happy to finally bring you the details of a very exciting project we've been working on for the past few months with the
@LanternCompany
! On 21st-24th Feb, from 5pm-9pm each night, Sefton Park Boating Lake will be transformed into .... a floating City of Light. [1/2]
📣📣📣WoWFest: Lockdown is here from 7th May - 31st May! A completely digital literary festival including some FANTASTIC names.... Check our line up on 1/10
Today is the 15th anniversary of the murder of Anthony Walker. He will always be remembered. We at Writing on the Wall abhor all racism – hate has no place in society. Our thoughts are with Anthony’s family and friends. RIP
'Black people have been in Liverpool[...]for over 300 years'
Help share the rich history of one of Britain's oldest Black communities with two national collections as our Project Archivist.
Applications open NOW!
💻
📢 WoW are delighted to announce that we've again been awarded ‘Outstanding’ for our work & dedication towards the Creative Case for Diversity from
@ace_national
&
@ace_thenorth
📢
We'd like to give a massive thank to our partners and volunteers.
After the shocking scenes in Knowsley on Friday, it’s important to stand together against racism. Say it loud, say it clear, Refugees are welcome here! ✊
This Saturday, 12pm at St George's Hall, Liverpool
#RefugeesWelcome
#Refugeesarewelcomehere
Watch former
@LFC
player Howard Gayle on racism in football and recently turning down an MBE.
Howard will be at our '1919 Race Riots Conference - A National Conversation' **TOMORROW**
@SGHLpool
.
Free tickets for young people.
Meet the Class of ’23! 📣
Liverpool’s longest-running Radical Writing Festival returns this May for a month long exploration of class in all its diversity.
📆 2 – 31 May
TICKETS 👉
#WOWFEST23
#CLASSOF23
@poke_marketing
🚨Write to Work Applications are 🔴LIVE
WoW's 12-week online writing course will develop your skills, connections and confidence!
For more information on eligibility and how to apply, click here:
Deadline: 26th January @ 12pm
On 7th May model & activist Munroe Bergdorf, sits down with
@MsLadyPhyll
co-founder of
@ukblackpride
, at
#WoWFEST19
for a a frank discussion on the challenges and opportunities of online activism, body image and carving out your own space.
Are you a creative looking for your next commission?
@bbcarts
@ace_national
have come together to create Culture in Quarantine, a fund looking to support creatively ambitious ideas around the theme of self-isolation.
WoW are thrilled to announce we have been awarded National Portfolio Funding by
@ace_national
🎉🎉
A huge thanks to our amazing staff, Trustees, our incredible artists and festival guests, project participants and volunteers for their continued work and support.
Congratulations to
@LeviTafariPoet
on being awarded Citizen of Honour of the City of Liverpool!
From his work in tv, theatre, music & poetry to his work on numerous WoW projects, Levi's impact on Black British Culture is undeniable & it is an honour to have him as an ambassador.
We are devastated by the news that our beloved friend, Professor Benjamin Zephaniah
@BZephaniah
has passed. Benjamin was an extraordinary award-winning poet, lyricist, musician, & revolutionary. We were honoured to have him as a guest at numerous WoWFEST events.
REST IN POWER ✊🏿
WoW got the Youth Endowment Fund!
We have been awarded £47,936 from
@YouthEndowFund
& can't wait to use it to create the WoW Young Writer's Programme, helping at risk young people through creative writing such as rap, grime, spoken word, memoir and poetry.
THE Booker Prize winning author
@MarlonJames5
is coming to WoW on Wednesday! Coming LIVE alongside
@IrenosenOkojie
discover Marlon's brand new novel Black Leopard Red Wolf and the mythical world it creates. Hurry tickets are going FAST!
Tix -
🔥WoWFEST: Fahrenheit 2024! 🌍 Join us in May as we tackle the climate emergency, culture wars, and more through writing, performance, and activism.
📆 May 1-31, 2024
📍 Venues across the
#Liverpool
City Region
🎟️
#WOWFEST24
It's
#IndependentBookshopWeek
Looking to top up on all of your literature needs? We recommend the fabulous
@newsfromnowhere
. This amazing independent bookshop and friend of WoW has been a counterpoint of Bold Street for 46 years offering all of the radical writing you may need.
Everyone at Writing on the Wall are deeply saddened at the passing of Leroy Cooper. He was a genius photographer, talented artist and writer. His work documenting the communities in Liverpool 8 & beyond is unprecedented. We are honoured to have had a long association with Leroy.
We are so thrilled to have won the Arts Organisation of the Year Award at the LCR Culture and Creativity Awards last night. We are so happy to see the hard work and creative projects we have produced receive be appreciated by the city. 🔽
@JustStop_Oil
will be at our FREE Future In Flames event this Sat! The event will bring together a diverse group of performers, artists & activists to creatively explore the urgent issue of the climate crisis!
20 May, 1pm
Sefton Park Bandstand
FREE 👉
Congratulations to our Programme Manager
@EmmaHulme11
who joined WoW 5 years ago TODAY!! Her work has been transformative for so many, and we have had much laughter and fun along the way. She has achieved so much and will no doubt achieve much more in the years to come. 🎆🔥
🚨We Are Hiring🚨
Cataloguing the works of two vital anti-racist organisations, we are looking for an archivist to help bring to the public two nationally significant collections relating to Liverpool’s Black History.
D/L 5pm | 30th August
Apply Now
OPEN CALL FOR FEMALE WRITERS: We’re looking for writers who identify as female who will produce unique written work over 5 workshops that will become part of the City of Light soundscape, in partnership with
@LaternCompany
led by
@lizzienunnery
Details:
📢We are thrilled to announce that we have been awarded £50,000 from
@WestonFdn
!
This money will be invaluable to help us continue bringing creative writing to our community & will help support our Writer's Bloc.
We'd like to give a massive thank you to
@WestonFdn
for this!
Happy
#IndependentBookshopWeek
,
@newsfromnowhere
!
Not only do they stock ALL of WoW's publications, but they are a cornerstone of our community and support
#WoWFEST
year after year
Get yourself down to Bold St and say hi to Maria and the amazing team 📚🎉
Happy Birthday
@FACT_Liverpool
! 🎉🥳
A culture landmark of Liverpool it's hard to believe it's only been 18 years, we cannot wait to see what the next decade brings.
FULLY-FUNDED PhD opportunity on community archiving! We are so excited to announce our first ever partnership with the Department of Geography and Planning at
@LivUni
to offer a fully-funded PhD studentship on community archiving in the UK. Apply here:
Thank you to Lowkey for an amazing performance of his powerful and emotional song ‘Ghosts of Grenfell’ yesterday at our
#buildingblockstofreedom
event.
#WOWFEST18
‘If there's a book that you want to read, but it hasn't been written yet, then you must write it.’ These words of the late Toni Morrison, who did it herself and changed the course of world literature, [1/3]
We would like to say a heartfelt thank you to
@esmeefairbairn
for awarding Writing on the Wall £154,500 over three years, to support the organisation’s work developing literature and literacy with diverse communities in Liverpool.
We want to wish our Co-director, Madeline a very Happy Birthday! 🎉🎂
She's one of the longest-serving members of WoW and a wonderful ambassador for the community.
All the best Mad, have a great day! 🎁
It was wonderful to witness the unveiling of a stunning mural at the Baltic Triangle last week, honouring our local poet, Liverpool Citizen of Honour, & friend of WoW
@LeviTafariPoet
. Thanks
@WindowsProject
@balticcreative
for their involvement. 📸 Colin Lane
Today we commemorate the 96 men, women and children who lost their lives at Hillsborough thirty years ago today. Our thoughts are with their families, their friends, the survivors and all those affected by this terrible tragedy.
#JFT96
YNWA
Stuart Maconie – The Nanny State Made Me
22nd May - 6pm
Properly funded hospitals, decent working conditions and affordable houses,
@StuartMaconie
looks at what life was like under Britain's Welfare State
That's a wrap!
#WoWFEST21
has seen the last of its online events, & what a festival!
We'd like to give a massive thank you to all our funders, trustees, staff, volunteers, guests & YOU.
Without your support
#WoWFEST21
couldn't have happened😍
Now to sleep for a year😴
📣 Calling all young aspiring writers aged 18-24ys! Want to be part of creative discussions, connect with industry experts & boost your writing skills? Sign up for our FREE one-day Write to Work Bootcamps✨
Apply Today
Must be unemployed & living in LCR
Join
@MayorLpool
, the first Black woman to lead a UK city council, for an evening of discussion for
#BHM21
.
Hear about Joanne’s journey to become one of the most inspiring people in British politics today ⚖️
21 October | 7pm
Get your FREE ticket:
Writing on the Wall are honoured to have been asked by
@CllrBMurray
on behalf of
@lpoolcouncil
to Chair the planning Committee for Liverpool’s 2021 year of Writing. Let us know if you or your org wants to get involved!
#Liverpoolwrites
@CultureLPool
@MichaelRosenYes
and his stories about his near death experience during COVID-19 have had us all in stitches tonight! 👏
It takes real talent to shed comedy and light on dark situations. We loved his heart-warming poem and testament to our
@NHSuk
too. 💕
Got an idea for a novel? Enter the first chapter into
#PulpIdol24
to meet your local writing community & get
#published
!
If you've written 80k words or just the first pages, Pulp Idol can help you on your writing journey
Enter:
This
#IWD2023
WoW celebrates Dorothy Kuya - Liverpool-born black antiracist campaigner, active feminist, & true inspiration for women everywhere. WoW is honoured to work with
@NML_Muse
to ensure that her legacy will continue to inspire future generations.
#DorothyKuyaArchive
Only 7 hours until Noam Chomsky comes to WoWFEST!
The political theorist will be presenting his 'Letter from America' a look at the President of the United States and rise of populist movements in politics. This is one not to miss.
What an incredible success last week's City of Light, City of Sanctuary was. We are so proud to have worked on this with
@LanternCompany
. Thanks so much to all the writers, participants, interns and volunteers who helped make the installation possible.
#WoWFEST21
is out and about!
Our festival posters are up and around Liverpool, can you spot them all?
See our FULL PROGRAMME -
And get access to all our events for only £21!*
*Offer ends 25th April
'We had to raise £10000 to get this book off the ground. Publishers told us it would take 6 months, and it took us 3 weeks because that's the level of interest for this kind of book.'
@KitdeWaal
on the book Common People.
Look what arrived!!😱We are so proud to have been awarded the Living Wage Employer Mark it's a credit to be recognised for this as we believe in the importance of paying a fair wage.
We do love a plaque 😍
WoW is opposed to The Liverpool Arms Fair & we show our support to those attending this protest.
As a City of Sanctuary Liverpool should be a place of refuge for all those affected by War, & the arms trade, and we can't allow this to happen in our city.
#StopLiverpoolArmsFair
.
On the
#ReadforRefaat
Global Day of Action, WoW Co-Directors Mike and Mad read his poem ‘IF I MUST DIE’. 🇵🇸🍉
Refaat al-Areer was a Palestinian poet, editor, and educator killed under Israeli bombardment 40 days ago.
@pubforpalestine
#ReadAndResist
Did you know that Liverpool’s Chinatown is home to the oldest Chinese Community in Europe? Happy Lunar New Year to everyone celebrating! 🐇🧧
#LunarNewYear
#YearofTheRabbit
Apply for Write to Work, a free 10 week writing course designed to help you explore a diverse range of writing skills, network with like minded individuals and even get published in anthology:
Massive congratulations to
@MichaelRosenYes
on winning the
@englishpen
#PENPinterPrize
2023! He won the prize for what judges call a fearless body of work that provides lessons in humanity. It was a joy to have Michael at
#WOWFEST23
& we hope to welcome him back in the future! 🏆
With 6/10 black LGBTQ+ experiencing racism in LGBTQ+ spaces we need to celebrate the powerful history of Black LGBTQ+ people.
Founder of
@ukblackpride
,
@MsLadyPhyll
will be live with us on TUESDAY!
Don't miss a second
Book Now
🎫-
Would you like to more about Liverpool L8 Local History? We have a new L8 Archives Project starting on 10th January at Toxteth
@Liverpoollib
6-8pm.
We're on the lookout for participants so email info
@writingonthewall
.org.uk if interested
Read more here:
We are pleased to welcome our new member of the team, Becky. With our most ambitious and exciting WoWFEST to date just around the corner, it's a brilliant time to be part of WoW. 😁
"It’s rare for projects such as this to be made"*
Kit's work being commissioned for TV is a crucial step towards more diversity within literature & on our screens.
We've still got a long way to go.
Join
@KitdeWaal
on Tuesday.
🎫-
We are so excited to announce that Kevin Duffy, co-founder or
@Ofmooseandmen
, is a judge on Pulp Idol. Get your work in front of an award winning independent publisher with Pulp Idol.
Submit your first chapter now -
#LiverpoolWrites
#LiverpoolYearOfWriting
WoW would like to wish happy 25th birthday to
@AminaAtiqpoetry
!!! We have been lucky enough to work with this amazingly talented poet on a number of projects including Shamin' on the Train for Black history Month all the way from Liverpool Young Writers! Have a wonderful day 🎆🎉
📢Massive Announcement 📢
Our Novel Writing Competition, Pulp Idol, is back! Get YOUR writing seen by Agents/Publishers & perform at WoWFEST21. We have some incredible guest judges to announce too!!
Deadline-2nd April.
Get your first chapter in now!
"Common People: the new anthology aiming to break the publishing industry’s class ceiling" ... we loved our
#WoWFEST19
event Common People, celebrating this fantastic anthology of working-class writers.
Learn more here:
Congratulations to fantastic A Place for Us CIC, winner of the LCR 'Preparing for Work' Award. We would have loved for
#WritetoWork
to have won but we are honoured to have been nominated along with the other fantstaic organisations from across the region.
#LCRCultureAwards
🙌🏆
We’re here at the
@LiverpoolWrites
Bootcamp & Marketplace! Come say hi, grab a copy of our new books & check out all the brilliant readings and workshops!
We’re here til 3pm ☺️