Hello and welcome to Cyprus Well Stories, a new blog for a new literature agency in South West England. The agency currently has the holding name, South West Literature Development Agency (SWLDA) and will be based at Cyprus Well, the Launceston home of the late poet, Charles Causley.
The purpose of the agency, governed by a voluntary board of directors and employing a small scale staffing structure, will be to increase literature development capacity in the South West by raising funds for activity, through trust and fund application, sponsorship, donation, and proceeds from events, which can then be used to invest fairly across the entire region
Grant schemes and partnerships will be created to make it easier for places and agencies in the South West to appoint Literature Development Workers and Writers in Residence. Up to one third
The new agency will build a regional programme which will make it easier for groups, venues, and agencies to arrange activities with visiting prose writers, playwrights, poets, screenwriters and storytellers. A grant scheme will assist with travel, fees and accommodation for readings, short residencies and workshops.
The new agency will stand up for literature activity and activists in the South West, help to map activity and build networks regional, national and international.
The steering group for the SWLDA development are Arts Council England, South West and ArtMatrix Ltd.
