Let the North be heard
A new creative writing hub in Newcastle intends to amplify the collective voice of Northern writers
THE North of England has its own culture; English, sure, but with a distinctive outlook and collective voice that is all its own.
As the Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham is so fond of saying: “We do things differently hear.”
Northerners like to embrace their difference. They make a meal of it; maybe they sometimes take the matter a little too seriously, but there's an underlying truth to it, all the same.
In England, however, it can be hard for the regions – not just those in Northern England – to make themselves heard over the clamour of the capital and its hinterland. London, infamously, dominates – and distorts – the nation's cultural, political, and economic fabric.
Anything that helps to counterbalance this southwards gravitational pull, is surely a welcome move then; if it grants regional – Northern voices – a channel to make themselves heard.
Earlier this year, the government chucked a wad of cash northwards to support just such an endeavour; one that aims to provide a platform for existing writers, and nurture new talent. Both are vital to raising the profile of regional contributions to the national culture.
The Department for Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS) awarded £5 million from its Cultural Development Fund to help create a new centre for writing and publishing in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, in the North East.
It's a significant win for the organisations behind the venture, obviously; of course there's a way to go yet before we see the kind of impact it can have.
Northern generation
The centre is intended to develop the next generation of Northern writers, become a 'hub' for the publishing industry on the North, and provide a place where residents of the region can discover their writing potential. High ideals, for sure.
The campaign for the centre was led by the charity New Writing North, along with Northumbria University, and it was backed by local government and the North East Mayor, Kim McGuinness. Publishers including Hachette UK, Faber & Faber and Simon & Schuster, also threw in their support.
“We are thrilled and excited that central government has chosen to support our vision for a centre for writing by investing in our region’s cultural economy and infrastructure,” said Claire Malcolm, chief executive of New Writing North.
“Creative writing is the backbone of the UK’s world-leading creative industries, which employ 2.4 million people. It also plays a vital role in well-being and public health.
“The centre for writing will provide an opportunity to expand our work with communities in the region and to work with even more brilliant Northern talent. It will also bring writers and readers together in a space which celebrates the power of storytelling.”
Great for writers in the North East, no doubt. For those who hail from further afield in the North of England – especially given the parlous state of rail services and infrastructure – accessing the new centre may not prove quite so straightforward. Still, it's something to build on; we mustn't dismiss that.
According to New Writing North, the new centre for writing will host programmes, courses, and events for both professional and aspiring writers. Indeed, the organisation says the centre will provide it the opportunity to extend programmes that give people of all ages, and from all backgrounds the opportunity to “discover their writing potential”.
The intention is for the centre to be based in Bolbec Hall, a 100-year-old, Grade II listed seven-storey building on Westgate Road, near Newcastle’s Central Station.
Bolbec Hall, which is currently empty, was designed in 1907 by FW Rich as additional offices for the Literary & Philosophical Society next door.
“We want the new centre for writing to have a catalytic impact on our cultural heartbeat,” said Councillor Karen Kilgour, leader of Newcastle City Council.
Kim McGuinness, the Mayor of the North East, said the DCMS money is a “big vote of confidence” in the North East's creative potential.
“[It] will burnish our reputation as a leading region for the creative industries, with new jobs and opportunities coming to the region in writing, TV and film,” McGuinness added. “The centre for writing will help transform people’s life chances, unearth hidden talent, and ensure our voice is heard. The North East is a region on the rise and taking its rightful place in the world - standing tall and proud on the national and world stage, thanks to our world-class arts, culture, and creativity.”
Alongside space for commercial publishers, the centre will also provide a floor dedicated to Northumbria University, a key partner in the project.
Creative collaboration
Students will be taught in this space so they can engage with other organisations within the centre. This is expected to provide opportunities for networking, collaboration, and experiential learning. The hope is this will open doors for them into the publishing industry.
“This initiative will bring the creative industries together with education, skills, and research to help build an inclusive economy,” said Dan Monnery, Northumbria University's chief strategy officer. “A new hub for talented writers in the North of England will help drive social mobility by providing better opportunities for individuals from the region to engage with writing and publishing.
“It will grow existing – and drive new – research activity and networks within the industry. And critically, it will support and create experiential learning opportunities for our students, such as placements and live projects, to support their future employability.”
The UK’s publishing industry contributes £11 billion overall to the economy, and the industry exports more books than any other country globally. International demand for UK publishing is expected to grow by a further 20% in the next decade.
“Like New Writing North, we believe that we will collectively reach even more readers and nurture diverse creative talent if we establish vibrant publishing hubs strategically across the UK,” said David Shelley, chief executive of Hachette Book Group.
“We are so thrilled for New Writing North on this major development, and we look forward to deepening our partnership and establishing an even bigger presence in the North of England with this move."
MC