About

Writing West Midlands aims to support the development of creative writing and participation in creative writing activities in the West Midlands region.

In order to do this we will:

•Encourage creative writing in all genres and forms and across a range of platforms.

•Develop the skills and talents of creative writers.

•Increase and improve opportunities for creative writing.

•Grow and inform audiences and readerships for creative writers.

•Promote the West Midlands as a region of creative writing excellence and wide engagement.

•Consolidate the position of Writing West Midlands as an organisation that effectively develops creative writing in the region.

Who we are

Jonathan Davidson - Chief Executive
Jonathan Davidson has worked for over twenty years in arts management and literature development, including working as a literature officer for local authorities and organising book festivals. He is joint-founder and Associate Director of the Birmingham Book Festival and Director of Midland Creative Projects Limited. He is also a writer. His radio plays are regularly broadcast on BBC Radios 3 and 4. His stage adaptation of Mary Webb’s novel, Precious Bane, toured with Interplay Theatre during 2009. His second collection of poetry will be published by Smith Doorstop in 2010. He is a Fellow of the RSA, a member of the National Association of Writers in Education, The Poetry Society and the National Association for Literature Development. He is Honorary Secretary and Chair of the Humfrey Coningsby Society. He lives in Coventry with his wife and two children.

Sara Beadle – Festivals Director
Sara  has been Director of the Birmingham Book Festival since 2010 and now works more broadly across Writing West Midlands’ activities and projects. She has been involved with the Birmingham Book Festival since 2005 and was previously a Project Manager for Midland Creative Projects Limited. She is a member of the National Association of Writers In Education and is currently taking part in the National Association for Literature Development’s Advanced Mentoring Scheme.  In 2011 she joined the Board of Directors for Live & Local Limited. Sara has an MPhil in Playwriting from the University of Birmingham, is currently working on her first novel, and lives in South Derbyshire

Joanne Penn – Projects Manager
Joanne has a BA Honours in Textile Design from the Birmingham Institute of Art and Design at Birmingham City University. She previously worked as a trainee marketing assistant at Wolverhampton Art Gallery and is currently studying towards an Open Degree with The Open University in Art History and Religion in History. She lives in Rowley Regis, West Midlands.

Writing West Midlands, Unit 204, The Custard Factory, Gibb Street, Birmingham, B9 4AA. Main Tel: 0121 246 2770. Fax: 0121 246 2771

If you would like to get in touch via email, please visit our Contact page.