From Monday 11th November, Bernie Grant Arts Centre will once again host the annual Tottenham Literature Festival. Now in its sixth year, the festival will see inspirational and acclaimed authors, MPs, artists and creatives come together to showcase the power of this year’s theme; Black Imaginations. The festival and its guests invite attendees to discuss, dream, and explore how imagination powerfully transforms our stories and realities.
For the first time, MP for Hackney North & Stoke Newington Diane Abbott joins the lineup, 37 years on from when she was elected as the first Black woman to join Parliament. She will take part in an exclusive ‘evening with’ occasion with Bernardine Evaristo, a Sunday Times bestseller and the first Black Brit to win the Booker Prize in 2019, with ‘Girl, Woman, Other’. The two icons will delve into the compelling stories behind Diane’s brilliant memoir – A Woman Like Me – and Evaristo’s impactful work. This year’s lineup also includes Paula Akpan, Kelechi Okafor, Dr Ronx, Zeinab Badwi, Danielle Jawando, Inua Ellams, Ekow Eshun and more.
The joyous celebration of captivating stories by Black authors, poets, and artists was founded in 2019 as part of the centre’s commitment to championing marginalised voices and talent. As London’s leading Black-led combined arts venue, Bernie Grant Arts Centre is devoted to creating a world in which Black artists, creatives and performers no longer have to fight to have their stories heard. Thanks to this mission, TLF attendees can engage with best-selling authors through inspiring talks, feel the power of live poetry and spoken word, participate in creative writing workshops, attend evening events full of music, and join family-friendly events for the entire week.
Included in this year’s programme, Paula Akpan – historian and renowned journalist – hosts an ‘in conversation’ with Zeinab Badawi, award-winning journalist, SOAS president and Times best-selling author. Author and screenwriter Danielle Jawando will host a ‘Writing for young adult readers’ masterclass followed by an interactive reading of ‘How to Save a Life’ by award-winning CBBC Operation Ouch presenter Dr Ronx. On Saturday, each panel will showcase a commissioned performance from a Black D/deaf creative, curated by Deaffest. A bespoke workshop led by this year’s Artist in Residence, Victoria Adukwei Bulley will delve into a unique exploration of poetic form and narrative techniques with the acclaimed poet and writer. And to finish the festival in style, Inua Ellams will host the ‘R.A.P Party’ – an unforgettable fusion of literature, poetry and music, with DJs to be announced soon.
While speaking on the return of the Tottenham Literature Festival, Azieb Pool, Artistic Director & CEO of Bernie Grant Art Centre, and founder of TLF, said:
“We’re so excited for the return of the Tottenham Literature Festival at Bernie Grant Arts Centre. This year’s TLF is a celebration of the most inspiring, groundbreaking Black authors and creatives. Our 2024 theme, Black Imaginations, invites you to dive deep into brilliant, powerful and transformative stories from Black authors, poets and artists. It’s time to reimagine our futures, and be inspired by how imagination can transform our stories and realities”
The festival is broken up into morning, afternoon, evening and full week-long tickets, with specific session tickets also available. Tickets start from £10, as well as a variety of free workshops and events. Tickets are available, alongside more information on the festival, discounted bundles and concessions via the BGAC website HERE.
You can find more information on BGAC’s Autumn/Winter programme – including the exhibition ‘What I Know Is Possible’, curated by Ronan McKenzie, Black History Month and To Be or Not To Be: Race and Shakespeare with Ameera Conrad – via the website HERE.
About BGAC:
Bernie Grant Arts Centre (BGAC) is a unique multi-artform venue in Tottenham, North London, inspired by the vision of the late Bernie Grant MP. The iconic building is a landmark on Tottenham High Street. As London’s only Black-led combined arts venue that prioritises Black work: BGAC exists to champion, develop and present new and cutting-edge multi-disciplinary work by Black artists for a world where Black led work is given space, status and a chance to thrive – a world in which Black artists, creatives and performers no longer have to fight to have their stories made. BGAC invests in the creativity of Black artists, aiming to amplify their voices, elevate their profiles and showcase their work; develop new audiences for this work, by attracting the broadest possible range of people to it; and provide valuable career opportunities within the arts for those from underrepresented backgrounds – addressing the inequity of access that is endemic in our borough, and beyond.
Supported by Arts Council England, Paul Hamlyn Foundation, Freelands Foundation & Haringey Council.
Twitter/X: @BGArtsCentre | Instagram: @bgartscentre | Facebook: BGArtsCentre
