“I was honoured to participate, gained immensely from the experience and will build on it in future’
Comment from a past participant of The Cambridge Seminar
The British Council's Cambridge Seminar on contemporary literature has influenced discussion, performance and debate of literature for thirty years. The Seminar brings together an impressive group of contemporary British writers and critics – including well known names and the new generation - and offers delegates an unrivalled and unforgettable literary experience consisting of a lively mix of readings, talks, performances, panel discussions and an opportunity to talk with the writers about their work. Participants, who come from many countries, have opportunities to meet and hear a wide range of writers from Britain, as well as take part in discussions about a range of literary trends and issues. In bringing together the insight and experiences of writers and participants in a strongly international context, the Cambridge Seminar offers an unrivalled literary experience. This is an opportunity to take part in one of the most intimate and influential literary events in the world in the relaxed surroundings of a Cambridge University College. Over the years many people who have attended the Seminar have described it as a defining moment in their careers, bringing them up-to-date with new trends in writing today and introducing them to an international network of like-minded people. The evaluation of the 29th Cambridge Seminar in 2005 states that there was 100% agreement among delegates that attending the seminar was a uniquely positive experience which provided new and valuable information which would be shared with colleagues and was good value for money. The seminar profiles the UK’s creative ideas and achievements and has been proven to increase the number of quality relationships between the UK and many other countries. It actively builds ties for the UK’s creative and knowledge economy.
The event is fully residential and is organized by British Council Seminars and the Literature Department.
The British Council's Literature website can be found at: http://www.britishcouncil.org/arts/arts-literature.htm
The 2007 programme features many well know, as well as innovatory new, names including: major novelists - Howard Jacobson, Kirsty Gunn, Rachel Seiffert, John Lanchester, Maureen Freely, Michel Faber; poets as interesting in performance as on the page - Andrew Motion (the poet laureate), John Hegley, Roger McGough, Jackie Kay; the eminent literary biographer Sir Michael Holroyd; the dramatist and diarist Simon Gray; and writers of many diverse genres - Simon Brett and Geoff Dyer. We will hold a panel discussion on challenges in publishing today with influential representative from Fabers and Google and a session with the Guardian cartoonist Martin Rowson on adapting classics into graphic novels.
The target group for the Seminar is anyone who is professionally engaged with literature: writers, translators, academics, literary editors and critics, teachers, librarians, broadcasters, literary venue administrators and festival programmers. Good spoken English is essential: participants will get most from the Seminar if they enjoy and contribute to the discussion and interchange it fosters. The Seminar also provides participants with the opportunity to meet and network with other literature professionals. There are places for up to 50 participants. Applications will be considered and selections made as soon as possible.
‘The diversity of the Seminar…makes this event very distinctive.'
Comment from another past participant of The Cambridge Seminar
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