News: New Partnerships for The Writing Platform

You can download the press release as a PDF here: QUT and BSU partner with The Writing Platform

Queensland University of Technology invests in The Writing Platform and Bath Spa University extends its support in 2014 

Queensland University of Technology (QUT) has invested in UK project The Writing Platform, becoming its official Australian partner. It joins Bath Spa University which has extended its partnership for 2014.

The Writing Platform, set up by The Literary Platform in 2012 with National Lottery funding and support from Arts Council England, includes a website, bursary scheme and live events programme dedicated to helping writers understand their creative and career options in the digital age.

The two university partnerships enable The Writing Platform to extend its international audience and expand the range of resources and events it offers writers.

Donna Hancox, Senior Lecturer, Creative Writing and Literary Studies at Queensland University of Technology, takes up the role of Australian Project Editor and will commission content from Australian writers and thought leaders in digital writing and publishing.

Bath Spa University has extended its support for 2014, with additional investment in editorial content and the bursary scheme. Kate Pullinger, Professor of Creative Writing and Digital Media, who co-founded the project with The Literary Platform, continues in her role as Editorial Director. Bath Spa University and The Writing Platform will once again collaborate on the MIX: Text on Screens conference in 2014.

“QUT’s Creative Industries Faculty is excited to partner with the Writing Platform to explore digital futures for writers and equip them with the tools they may need for a diverse writing future.  We are looking forward to combining our research skills and creative networks with the expertise of The Writing Platform to deliver innovative content and spark discussion from the Asia Pacific region” said Professor Helen Klaebe, Assistant Dean, Research and Business Development, Creative Industries Faculty at Queensland University of Technology.

“We are delighted to be renewing our partnership with The Writing Platform. Bath Spa University aims to develop and sustain a dynamic culture of digital practice and research in key areas such as creative writing. The Writing Platform enables us to share our resources and knowledge with an international network of emerging and established writers” said Bambo Soyinka, Head of Creative Writing and Publishing at Bath Spa University.

www.thewritingplatform.com is a resource for writers and poets­ – whether they are emerging or established, traditionally published, self-published ­or not yet published – and provides neutral and best practice information about writing in the digital age. Contributors include Margaret Atwood, Philip Hensher, Naomi Alderman and Porter Anderson. The Writing Platform also holds an annual fair and conference at Rich Mix, London, offering panel discussions, seminars, workshops and networking opportunities, which was last year sponsored by Kobo Writing Life.

In 2013 The Writing Platform ran its first Bursary Scheme, funded by NALD (National Association for Literature Development), which enabled two writers and two creative technologists to collaborate on a project of their choosing.

“We are delighted to be welcoming QUT on board as official partners to The Writing Platform and to be renewing our productive partnership with Bath Spa University, it’s a real vote of confidence in the work we are doing. These partnerships allow us to expand the resources we offer writers and develop our work in different territories, it’s an honour to be working with two such forward thinking institutions.” said Joanna Ellis, COO, The Literary Platform and co-founder, The Writing Platform.

For press enquiries and more information contact Laura Creyke, laura@theliteraryplatform.com / 07951 777 407

www.thewritingplatform.com

@thewritplatform

Notes to Editors:

About Queensland University of Technology

Queensland University of Technology (QUT) is a highly successful Australian university with an applied emphasis in courses and research. Based in Brisbane, the university has a global outlook, some 44,000 students, including 6000 from overseas, and an annual budget of more than AU$872 million.

Unique to QUT is the Bachelor of Creative Industries, which equips graduates with diverse knowledge, creativity and professional skills across a range of industries and practice.  Located in the Creative Industries Precinct, alongside research centres and creative enterprises, the QUT Creative Industries Faculty is not only training the creative workforce, but working with industry and government to grow the sector.

The Creative Industries Faculty offers specialist degrees across a range of creative study areas include the Bachelor of Fine Arts, Bachelor of Entertainment Industries, Bachelor of Music, Bachelor of Journalism and Bachelor of Media and Communication degrees. Staff and students of the Faculty are noted for pushing disciplinary boundaries and many are producing bold experimental work in the digital and live domains.  Emphasising practice-led research has resulted in national and international recognition for the Faculty, and QUT is changing and evolving the modes of creative communication through its research.

About Bath Spa University

Bath Spa University is where creative minds meet. Offering a wide range of courses across the arts, sciences, education, social science and business to 7,000 students, the University employs outstanding creative professionals, which support its aim to be a leading educational institution in creativity, culture and enterprise. Based in stunning countryside just a few minutes from a World Heritage City, Bath Spa University ensures its students graduate as engaged global citizens who are ready for the world of work. In fact, 93 per cent of graduates find themselves in work or further study within six months.

The University also hosts one of the UK’s best-known centres for teaching creative writing. The Creative Writing Department, within the School of Humanities and Cultural Industries, recently appointed 10 new teaching and research professors — all highly acclaimed in their creative fields — to join a distinguished team of practitioner researchers. Two of these appointments, Kate Pullinger and Naomi Alderman, reflect the vital role and priority Bath Spa has given to questions of writing and digital technology, as well as the digital future of the writing industry more generally. At Bath Spa University, as well as focusing on excellence in creative writing across all genres, digital forms are embedded in the creative writing curriculum from undergraduate through MA and PhD level.

Bath Spa has recently invested £26 million in digital media labs; these labs will be ready for use in 2014. As a recent recipient of the EU Commission’s ‘HR Excellence in Research’ award, the University Research Strategy aims to develop and sustain the culture of research and scholarship across the institution and its national and international profile in key areas such as creative writing. www.bathspa.ac.uk

About The Literary Platform

The Literary Platform is a specialist organisation working at the heart of books and technology. In 2013 it was selected for the British Council Creative Economy’s list of Top Ten UK Creative Entrepreneurs, and in the Guardian Professional/h.Club 100 list of most innovative and influential in the creative industries 2013.

It works with a wide range of clients, academic institutions and other organisations on research projects looking at the impact of technology on writers and publishing, as well as conceiving and producing its own projects with funding from Arts Council England and NALD such as The Writing Platform and Fiction Uncovered.