Open University International Contemporary Writing magazine wins Arts Council funding

Wasafiri: The Magazine of International Contemporary Writing, housed at the OU and edited by Susheila Nasta of the English Department has won an additional grant from the Arts Council of England to support our 25th anniversary year in 2009. Susheila and the Wasafiri team based in Camden (Region 1) will be co-ordinating and organising a series of high profile events in London next year. The grant to support these events is for £36,000. Events will include a live event at the British Library with invited writers talking about the 'Books That Made Me', participation in the London Book Fair (India focus) in partnership with the British Council, the launch of a New Writing Prize (judged by Blake Morrison, Susheila Nasta, Mimi Khalvati, Margaret Busby) and a day of anniversary events at the Festival Hall, South Bank in October 09 including a number of highly distinguished writers.

We will also be publishing a bumper special issue.

This is very good news indeed especially in the current economic climate. The grant supplements our annual award as an Arts Council revenue client.

For more information about Wasafiri see www.wasafiri.org

Edited from email (08/12/08) from Dr Susheila Nasta, Professor of Modern Literature, Editor, Wasafiri.