Will you champion global voices?
If someone asked you to tell them a story, what would you say?
Perhaps you would recount the plot of a favourite book that has always moved you in some way. Maybe you would tell them about something that happened to you. It is said that everyone has a story to tell.
But perhaps it would be more accurate to say that we are all comprised on many stories- the ones we tell others, the ones we are told, the ones we tell ourselves.
In 2020 – 21 we invite you to join UEA in celebrating 50 years of pioneering storytelling in a way that will shape literature for the next 50 years.
With your support, our vision is to help emerging writers from around the world tell important stories – stories that may change the world. Our bold new International Chair of Creative Writing and Global Voices scholarship programme will help us achieve this.
The International Chair of Creative Writing and Global Scholarship Programme
In this ambitious part of our story, five writers from five territories – Africa, the Americas, Asia, Australasia and the Middle East – will each hold the post of International Chair of Creative Writing for one year. Each will represent emerging writers, both in their region and globally. They will be people who can inspire and connect; who have a passion for world literature that transcends boundaries; and who will lead the way for emerging writers and highlight unheard voices.
This year, we announced that Booker-shortlisted Zimbabwean author, Tsitsi Dangarembga, will become the very first Chair for Africa. Tsitsi will join us in September 2021, and will be supported by UEA’s Creative Writing department to deliver events, masterclasses and workshops across the African continent and in the UK.
I am honoured to be appointed International Chair of Creative Writing (Africa) at UEA. This position enables me to continue to pursue my long-time passion of raising awareness concerning the importance of creative writing in society in southern Africa. It is a welcome opportunity for me and emerging African writers to connect with the highly distinguished UEA programme in Creative Writing. - Tsitsi Dangarembga
The International Chair of Creative Writing Global Voices programme will also see the creation of 50 international MA scholarships that give the world’s most promising new voices a life-changing opportunity to study at UEA.
How you can help
We need your support to help deliver the next four years of the International Chair of Creative Writing programme and to create 50 MA Global Voices scholarships.
Your gift could not only change people’s lives around the world, but also change the global face of literature.
If you’d like to find out more, or make a larger gift, contact the Development Office at giving@uea.ac.uk.