We are delighted to announce the seven recipients of the 2019 RSL Literature Matters Awards. The Awards aim to enable literary excellence and innovation, providing writers with financial support to undertake a new literary project. The judges this year are Menna Elfyn, Abdulrazak Gurnah (chair), Barney Norris.

£3,000 – Will Eaves and Sophie Scott -The Neuromantics
A monthly podcast of discussion and readings on the intersection of literature and neuroscience.

£3,500 – Rosemary Harris – Word Bridges
A series of creative writing workshops for young refugee and migrant participants, culminating in a live reading/performance.

£2,000 – Mab Jones – At the City’s Edge: The Wetlands of Wales
A podcast of poems, stories and sound art to explore the importance of the Welsh wetlands, which are now under threat.

£4,000 – Winnie M Li and Clare Shaw – Clear Lines: Writing About Trauma and Gender-Based Violence
A touring event of author readings, writing workshops and panel discussions,focusing on trauma and gender-based violence in novels, poetry, memoir, plays, and graphic literature.

£2,500 – Gregory McCartney – A Magazine for Revolution? An exploration of the Honest Ulsterman magazine
A print and online publication exploring different facets of the Northern Irish poetry magazine Honest Ulsterman magazine since its inception in 1968, inviting readers, writers, artists, editors and historians to compose a series of essays exploring the Honest Ulsterman and its context throughout its history.

£2,000 – Sian Northey – Food Bank Stories/Straeon y Banc Bwyd
Creation of a collection of short stories, in both Welsh and English, based on a residency at a food bank using techniques borrowed from verbatim theatre.

£3,000 – Alycia Pirmohamed and Jay G. Ying – Scottish BAME Writers’ Group & Showcase
A series of writing workshops and two masterclasses for BAME writers in Scotland, culminating in a showcase event at the Scottish Poetry Library, where a pamphlet of work will be distributed. Building a network for writers of colour who are often isolated and under-represented in the literary community.

Please read the press release for more information.