New programme launches to support emerging writers

A new programme has been established by Jewish Book Week to champion emerging writers in the UK.

Alongside the Genesis Foundation, the programme will offer bursaries and mentorship to ten emerging writers over eighteen, from any background, writing poetry, fiction or nonfiction.

The ten writers will be supported by other established writers including Tracy Chevalier, Sam Leith and George Szirtes.

Jewish Book Week director, Claudia Rubenstein, said: “Our annual festival celebrates the wealth and diversity of writing talent within the Jewish community, and this new programme seeks to draw on the expertise of our festival speakers to foster and develop the careers of new writers from all backgrounds. 

“We are tremendously excited to discover the poets, authors and journalists who will form the Genesis Emerging Writers cohort of 2021.”

Applications to the scheme, called the Genesis Jewish Book Week Emerging Writers’ Programme, are now open, with writers being asked to work on projects with the theme of ‘beginnings’.

The successful writers will be offered peer support sessions, opportunities to speak at future JBW events and bursaries of up to £1,500 to complete research and writing

Bursaries will be distributed from July and an event will be held at JBW’s 70th anniversary festival in March 2022.

•  To apply and for more details, visit https://jewishbookweek.com/genesis-jewish–book–week-emerging-writers-programme-eligibility-and-entry-guidelines/.